November Wrap Up

The Lost by Simon Beckett

Simon Beckett is a new-to-me author and I loved this book.

The first book in a new series starts with a bang and doesn’t let go until the end. This year, I was gripped from the very first page to the very last one of my favourite books.

This makes you question where your loyalties lie and whom you can trust in an explosive thriller. When you think you know what the bad guy is, you’re probably wrong!

Read my Full review here.

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

I loved this book by Josie Sliver; it was beautifully and sensitively written and an easy read that carried you through Lydia’s ups and downs of Lydia’s life. Although a dreadful thought, this could be about anyone you know as it’s so relatable and shows a beautiful alternate universe that I am sure we would all visit if we could.

Read my full review here.

One Night on the Island by Josie Silver

I loved this book. Josie Silver has an excellent talent for romance, which is another example of that. It’s an uplifting story full of emotion that feels like a big, warm hug on a cold day.

Heart-warming, this speaks to everyone in a relationship or not; romance is for everyone.

Full review coming February 2022!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I unexpectedly loved this book. I didn’t expect to enjoy it but wanted to see what all the fuss was about. The reviews were great, but I don’t enjoy celebrity life, as I said before. In fact, I can’t think of much worse!

However, despite being a celebrity, this was more about Evelyn’s life and challenges, with the biggest being Monique and her father.

This book will stay with me for a long time to come. The challenges, relationships, loss and compassion, made it an excellent read.

Read my full review here.

Shades of Truth (Carly Moore Book 6) by Denise Grover Swank

The penultimate book in the Carly Moore Series, Denise Grover Swank has pulled this incredible read out of the bag. I honestly don’t know how she does it! I am beyond excited for the conclusion of the series, and I have absolutely no idea what’s going to come next!

Read my full review here.

The 100-day Magical Ride to Bliss by Amelia Bert

I know quite a few people who would love this guide. I think it would make the perfect Christmas present or a New Year’s gift, which is always the ideal time to start new projects and look to self-improvement for the year ahead.

Full review coming soon.

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

In all honesty, I didn’t enjoy this as much as I had expected; I think all the hype probably didn’t help. The story felt predictable from the beginning, although it was built in a slightly less predictable way.

The book is about heartbreak, strength and breaking cycles, which is an excellent thing and hard to accomplish. At times the book had a slightly “50 shades” feel that I didn’t enjoy. However, it was interesting to see everyone’s thoughts on Ryle and how unsuspecting they all are, possibly the book’s most authentic part.

Read my full review here.

The Widow by K.L. Slater

Kate and Michael Shaw have been happily married for over ten years and live in a small village where they are popular, with their little girl, Tansy, who attends the local primary school. That is until after a lousy day, Michael walks in front of a lorry. Suspicion has arisen in the village, and they aren’t supported by the locals. So instead, Kate and Tansy are being driven out, but we follow Kate as she tries to make sense of her life with Michael and her many unanswered questions and faces her worst fears.

Read my full review here.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

This book pulls you in and lets you experience this rollercoaster relationship through the brilliant writing of Sally Rooney. I know the reviews for this are very varied, but I really enjoyed this and will probably re-read it later.

Read my full review here.

The Midnight Lock by Jeffery Deaver

I read this as a stand-alone as I didn’t initially realise it was part of a long series, and what a wonderful treat it is! This is a pacy, well-plotted read full of entertainment with plenty of twists and turns. The plot is somewhat complicated, with many strands pulled together brilliantly, all very impressively tied up by the end with no lost strands.

Read my full review here.

Tom Collins by Douglas Vigliotti

I loved the excellent writing style of Douglas Vigliotti and his dark humour. This captured my attention and held my interest to the end. In addition, I enjoyed reading a ‘romantic’ book written by a male and featuring a male protagonist; it was refreshing.

Read my full review here.

Under the Rainbow by Celia Laskey

Laskey has captured the pressures of living in a small town well and the horror of homophobia. However, I liked how some people changed and had more honest opinions. Interestingly the older woman, who was initially one of the most sceptical, became more open and willing to learn.

Full review coming soon.

The Stepson by Jane Renshaw

The book’s conclusion was great, a strong ending that I didn’t see coming.

I loved the characters and the way this story is told. It’s very well written with an intriguing plot and a surprising ending. I enjoyed reading this and got through it in two short sittings: one to curl up on the sofa with a hot chocolate and read straight through.

Full review coming soon.

The Couple on Maple Drive by Sam Carrington

Overall, the book was a little disappointing, there could have been many more twists and turns, more red herrings, and it could have been less predictable. In addition, it’s not overly believable, especially the sudden recoveries and new relationships.

I wondered if Isla was correct or had an overactive imagination after her attack, and I would have loved for the book to take this route. A more realistic aspect with more paranoia would have provided a better read.

Full review coming soon.