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ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Switch in Books
Jul 18, 2020
The Switch by Beth O’Leary was a book that I was very much looking forward to reading. I had read, loved and gifted The Flatshare, her debut book. Then I read the synopsis for this book, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little trepidatious (is that a real word?). I had visions of Tom Hanks in Big, or of Jodie Foster in Freaky Friday, if I’m honest. I needn’t have worried, because this isn’t Big or Freaky Friday (sorry, if that’s what you’re expecting 🤷🏼♀️).
Instead, this is the story of two Eileens: 79 year old Eileen and her granddaughter Leena who is 29. They are both at times of great change in their lives. They’ve both just experienced the death of Leena’s sister, and Eileen’s husband has left her for a younger woman.
When Leena comes home for a visit, she realises that Eileen has been casing the men in the village with a mind to dating one. There isn’t a great choice. After a look on a dating website, she realises that the choice of men in their 70’s is far greater in London, so Leena creates an account on the dating website for her Grandma, and they swap lives for 8 weeks - the length of time that Leena’s boss has given her as a holiday, to try and recover from the loss of her sister.
I adored this book. Need I say more? OK, I suppose I should.
I loved how Eileen was treated as an adult with real feelings and sexual urges. She may be 79, but she isn’t some sexless old biddy, treated like a child. As much as we don’t necessarily like to think of our mothers/ grandmothers having sex , it’s highly likely that they do, and why not?
I loved how the death of Leena’s sister was treated. The long, slow process of grieving, and how it doesn’t just switch off, that there are no rules.
Leena’s love life is very entertaining too, and I was rooting for one particular character throughout.
So in conclusion, just do yourself a favour and go and buy this book. It’s ace. Beth O’Leary writes wonderful stories it would seem, about wonderful, quirky, normal people. I’ll be waiting and ready to read whatever she puts out there next, of that I’m sure!
Instead, this is the story of two Eileens: 79 year old Eileen and her granddaughter Leena who is 29. They are both at times of great change in their lives. They’ve both just experienced the death of Leena’s sister, and Eileen’s husband has left her for a younger woman.
When Leena comes home for a visit, she realises that Eileen has been casing the men in the village with a mind to dating one. There isn’t a great choice. After a look on a dating website, she realises that the choice of men in their 70’s is far greater in London, so Leena creates an account on the dating website for her Grandma, and they swap lives for 8 weeks - the length of time that Leena’s boss has given her as a holiday, to try and recover from the loss of her sister.
I adored this book. Need I say more? OK, I suppose I should.
I loved how Eileen was treated as an adult with real feelings and sexual urges. She may be 79, but she isn’t some sexless old biddy, treated like a child. As much as we don’t necessarily like to think of our mothers/ grandmothers having sex , it’s highly likely that they do, and why not?
I loved how the death of Leena’s sister was treated. The long, slow process of grieving, and how it doesn’t just switch off, that there are no rules.
Leena’s love life is very entertaining too, and I was rooting for one particular character throughout.
So in conclusion, just do yourself a favour and go and buy this book. It’s ace. Beth O’Leary writes wonderful stories it would seem, about wonderful, quirky, normal people. I’ll be waiting and ready to read whatever she puts out there next, of that I’m sure!
BookInspector (124 KP) rated Unchosen in Books
Jul 1, 2021
The protagonist of this book is Charlotte, she is a middle child out of three sisters and the least gifted one of them all. Her older sister Harlow is a popular guitar player and very strong personality in general, her younger sister Vanessa is a talented gymnast. All her life Charlotte is left living in Harlow’s shadow, loving the boy who is in love with her sister and taking care of Vanessa. She sounds pretty miserable until she is taken from the camp as the Chosen One, who will save everyone from Crimson. Only then I could see, that Charlotte is not as useless as she portrayed it. I have to admit, in the beginning, I thought that Harlow should be the main character, she was more suitable, but by the time I finished the book, I was glad that Charlotte was the protagonist. 🙂 This book has such a great selection of characters to choose from! I loved them all, they were very well presented and delivered.
The narrative of this book is very fast-paced, and there is always something happening in this book. Most of the book is spent on the ship sailing through the ocean, and I really enjoyed the sailor’s life portrayed in this book. There is plenty of action, turns and twists, and this book really had me hooked and entertained. I loved the romance in this book as well, it is exciting, full of sexual tension and very adorable. The topics discussed in this book are forbidden love, family relations, bravery, adventures, self-pity, friendships, overcoming your fears and phobias and many more.
I really enjoyed the world that the author created for the reader. I felt like I was alongside the characters during their journeys. It has very strong Bird Box vibes, but also there is so much more going on than that. The chapters are pretty short, and the pages just flew by. I loved the ending of this book, it left me very satisfied with the outcome.
So, to conclude, I loved this book, and could not put it down. I really liked the characters and the roles they played as well as the fast-paced and full of adventures plot. It has all the things I need for an enjoyable dystopian/fantasy YA book, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who likes pirates, ships and adventures.
The narrative of this book is very fast-paced, and there is always something happening in this book. Most of the book is spent on the ship sailing through the ocean, and I really enjoyed the sailor’s life portrayed in this book. There is plenty of action, turns and twists, and this book really had me hooked and entertained. I loved the romance in this book as well, it is exciting, full of sexual tension and very adorable. The topics discussed in this book are forbidden love, family relations, bravery, adventures, self-pity, friendships, overcoming your fears and phobias and many more.
I really enjoyed the world that the author created for the reader. I felt like I was alongside the characters during their journeys. It has very strong Bird Box vibes, but also there is so much more going on than that. The chapters are pretty short, and the pages just flew by. I loved the ending of this book, it left me very satisfied with the outcome.
So, to conclude, I loved this book, and could not put it down. I really liked the characters and the roles they played as well as the fast-paced and full of adventures plot. It has all the things I need for an enjoyable dystopian/fantasy YA book, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who likes pirates, ships and adventures.
BookInspector (124 KP) rated Perfectly Preventable Deaths in Books
Sep 24, 2020
The protagonist in this novel was Madeline, and the book is told from her perspective. Madeline is a very complex character, she is very introverted, lesbian, and socially awkward. Her twin sister, on the other hand, is the opposite. Catlin is the popular girl, she is extroverted, fearless and doesn’t care what others think. Madeline is very dependable on her twin sister, and her inability to function without her made me sad and kind of disappointed. I absolutely despised Catlin, she is arrogant and was very rude and disrespectful not only to her parents but to her sister as well. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Madeline as well, she allowed to be treated like she was a lowlife, and was scared to stand up for herself. I did enjoy Madeline’s discovery of whom she is really attracted to, and her effort to make friends and integrate into society.
The mood of this novel was very well set up. The whole book seeped with darkness, mystery and gloominess, and I think that created the perfect mood for the events described. The narrative was quite slow, and I was hoping for more mystery, twists and turns. I needed more suspense as well, it kind of just plodded along, sharing Madeline’s quite repetitive thoughts. There was quite a bit of magic involved, but I think the full potential of that magic was not utilized.
The writing style was very impressive, I found it incredibly poetic, very lyrical, and melodious. It was pleasant and easy to read, and the chapters were quite short. I really liked the names of each chapter, I learned a lot about the medicinal value of certain plants, that I will be using that in the future. The ending of this novel supposed to be promising, and it was quite intriguing, but again, it just made very little sense, and I would have loved a deeper digging into the history of the whole village, it’s residents and all the murders and other events that happened before.
I think this book had an amazing potential into becoming something absolutely sinister and amazing, instead, it concentrated more on the sisterly love, finding yourself and trying to be independent (and failing). Yes, it discussed teenage confusion and wish to fit in, but I was expecting more.
The mood of this novel was very well set up. The whole book seeped with darkness, mystery and gloominess, and I think that created the perfect mood for the events described. The narrative was quite slow, and I was hoping for more mystery, twists and turns. I needed more suspense as well, it kind of just plodded along, sharing Madeline’s quite repetitive thoughts. There was quite a bit of magic involved, but I think the full potential of that magic was not utilized.
The writing style was very impressive, I found it incredibly poetic, very lyrical, and melodious. It was pleasant and easy to read, and the chapters were quite short. I really liked the names of each chapter, I learned a lot about the medicinal value of certain plants, that I will be using that in the future. The ending of this novel supposed to be promising, and it was quite intriguing, but again, it just made very little sense, and I would have loved a deeper digging into the history of the whole village, it’s residents and all the murders and other events that happened before.
I think this book had an amazing potential into becoming something absolutely sinister and amazing, instead, it concentrated more on the sisterly love, finding yourself and trying to be independent (and failing). Yes, it discussed teenage confusion and wish to fit in, but I was expecting more.
Hairpin Bridge
8.0
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Lindsay (1812 KP) rated On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness in Books
Mar 2, 2026
We get introduced to the world, and how Fangs of Dangs are wondering about Skee?
Why are they picking up children and then never returning them? We meet the Isby family.
There are Janner, Tink [Kalmar], Lelli, their grandfather, and their mother, Nia. Where is their father? Who is their father? What adventure will they have?
We hear more snow children as they get ready for the Dragon Day festival.
Janner feels like he always has to keep looking out for his brother and sister. However, he does get to do what he wants.
His grandfather wants to tell him, but his mother doesn't want him to say anything or bring up memories. Why secrets and no truth? Though Janner knows his father's name is Esben.
Will the children enjoy the festival together? Janner is trying to keep his siblings nearby. Will it work?
Leeli has gone missing. This happened between sad songs and before dragons came up to start dancing.
But before Tink and Janner can watch the dragons. They had to find their sister Leeli.
Their dog Nugget seems to give a clue with his barking. Once they find Leeli and Nugget, they are in a fight with two Fangs of Dangs.
Someone may have helped the children with the two stones thrown at them.
Janner and Tink help their sister. Tanner thinks they should head for home. When they get close, they see that it's dark. Podo seems to have gone to see the dragons. They go, they take Glipper Trail.
Will they find Podo (grandfather)? Where did Podo go?
Will they find their moma with Podo? Did they go to see the dragons? Why was everything dark and no smoke, as if no one was home?
We get a dragon dance and a song that Leeli sings. But where did it come from, and how did she know it?
Fangs have caught them. March them to a jail. But what will happen to them? Will they be tortured or sent away?
Will their mother or grandfather find them? We see that the adventures are starting.
What will Igiby's children do and what adventures will they get into? Who is this mysterious stone thrower?
There seem to be secrets, and they don't seem to know why. Why is Nia not really telling the children about their father? Especially Janner.
What is their family history? What adventures will all three children have?
Why are they picking up children and then never returning them? We meet the Isby family.
There are Janner, Tink [Kalmar], Lelli, their grandfather, and their mother, Nia. Where is their father? Who is their father? What adventure will they have?
We hear more snow children as they get ready for the Dragon Day festival.
Janner feels like he always has to keep looking out for his brother and sister. However, he does get to do what he wants.
His grandfather wants to tell him, but his mother doesn't want him to say anything or bring up memories. Why secrets and no truth? Though Janner knows his father's name is Esben.
Will the children enjoy the festival together? Janner is trying to keep his siblings nearby. Will it work?
Leeli has gone missing. This happened between sad songs and before dragons came up to start dancing.
But before Tink and Janner can watch the dragons. They had to find their sister Leeli.
Their dog Nugget seems to give a clue with his barking. Once they find Leeli and Nugget, they are in a fight with two Fangs of Dangs.
Someone may have helped the children with the two stones thrown at them.
Janner and Tink help their sister. Tanner thinks they should head for home. When they get close, they see that it's dark. Podo seems to have gone to see the dragons. They go, they take Glipper Trail.
Will they find Podo (grandfather)? Where did Podo go?
Will they find their moma with Podo? Did they go to see the dragons? Why was everything dark and no smoke, as if no one was home?
We get a dragon dance and a song that Leeli sings. But where did it come from, and how did she know it?
Fangs have caught them. March them to a jail. But what will happen to them? Will they be tortured or sent away?
Will their mother or grandfather find them? We see that the adventures are starting.
What will Igiby's children do and what adventures will they get into? Who is this mysterious stone thrower?
There seem to be secrets, and they don't seem to know why. Why is Nia not really telling the children about their father? Especially Janner.
What is their family history? What adventures will all three children have?
Jessi Bone (48 KP) rated Friction in Motion in Books
Mar 18, 2019
Jerry is woken by his father one faithful morning, to be informed that him, his father and grandfather will be taking a men-only road trip. Jerry is an emotionally detached child prodigy and wants nothing less than for his parents to finally divorce so that everyone can finally understand why he is the way he is. His father has fits that have put a strain on his marriage and his family which has split the family to sides. His sister siding with his mother and Jerry standing with his dad because he feels that no one will be there for his dad, so if leaving on a long road trip with no end in sights means leaving his sister and mom behind he is ready to go. On this road to discovery Jerry, he visits his mobster uncle, a spirit channeling aunt, a native American Indian healer, and a depressed punker.
This tale is remissive of an epic poem and how the discovery of yourself leads to places you would not normally go. Sy Kadella is a talented storyteller who leaves you wondering about the experiences that Jerry must endure to finally see where he is and where he is going. Jerry is a very complex character who unravels in layers as his journey unfold which is a treat unto itself. To be honest the story is slow in places and almost stalls as the details overrun the overall tale. It was an enjoyable tale even though you do have to dig through in places.
This tale is remissive of an epic poem and how the discovery of yourself leads to places you would not normally go. Sy Kadella is a talented storyteller who leaves you wondering about the experiences that Jerry must endure to finally see where he is and where he is going. Jerry is a very complex character who unravels in layers as his journey unfold which is a treat unto itself. To be honest the story is slow in places and almost stalls as the details overrun the overall tale. It was an enjoyable tale even though you do have to dig through in places.
ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Lost Ones in Books
Dec 3, 2019
The Lost Ones is a gothic horror set during the First World War. It's 1917and Stella Marcham has already experienced a traumatic war. She has lost her fiancé, and seen more than most women as a nurse on the front line. She is grief stricken and it's highly possible that she has PTSD. Her brother-in-law asks Stella to go and keep her pregnant sister company at his country home, as she is experiencing strange occurrences, and he feels that she needs some support. He doesn't believe Stella's sister when she says that she can hear a child crying: there are no children at Greyswick.
I loved this book! it made me jump, gasp out loud and burst out in nervous laughter. It's worth bearing in mind that I was on a long train journey as I was reading this, so there are probably a number of people between Skegness and Chester who either think I'm a little unhinged, or are dying to know what I was reading (I'm considering wearing some sort of badge on long train journeys, that says 'currently reading (insert book name here)'. I'm sure it'll explain to people my frankly erratic behaviour in cases like this.).
Anyway, this book deserves any hype it gets, and I strongly suggest that if you're a fan of historical fiction with a gothic bent, you go out, buy and read this immediately. And read it in public. I can't always be the one to show herself up like this.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for my copy of this book.
I loved this book! it made me jump, gasp out loud and burst out in nervous laughter. It's worth bearing in mind that I was on a long train journey as I was reading this, so there are probably a number of people between Skegness and Chester who either think I'm a little unhinged, or are dying to know what I was reading (I'm considering wearing some sort of badge on long train journeys, that says 'currently reading (insert book name here)'. I'm sure it'll explain to people my frankly erratic behaviour in cases like this.).
Anyway, this book deserves any hype it gets, and I strongly suggest that if you're a fan of historical fiction with a gothic bent, you go out, buy and read this immediately. And read it in public. I can't always be the one to show herself up like this.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for my copy of this book.
Cocoa Beach (A Certain Age #2)
8.0
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The Mandibles: A Family, 2029-2047
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'Shriver's intelligence, mordant humour and vicious leaps of imagination all combine to make this a...
Kristy H (1252 KP) Aug 3, 2020