The story was a slow burn but one I found I kept thinking about while at work. The relationships between all the characters was one that kept being peeled back similar to an onion and was an honest revelation.
That ending though. Had me sobbing in the car outside the library.

King paints a bleak picture of human nature with his wide cast of characters. While most are well meaning and just want to survive and make a better life, some are hell bent on destruction and revenge.
The story though will stick with me for some time. The idea that humans struggle to go beyond what we know and the seemingly impossibility of redemption or improvement.

A lovely wee ode to the beauty of walking

I am a saver of books and there are a few authors I want to really take my time to anticipate and savour their work. Galbraith is one of these. I was given this two years ago and to be honest I wasn‘t planning to read for awhile but the release of the book episode as the next instalment in C.B. Strike forced my hand. Finished this on Thursday so started the first episode last night. Loving it

Finally! Ordered this is December. Finally picked it up today. Can‘t wait to crack into it

Big Summer ~ Jennifer Weiner. I decided to read this one after listening to a podcast featuring Jennifer Weiner. It‘s my first of her books and I have to say, I was not disappointed. The mystery side was fine but I found the Instagram content riveting, how to build a platform and all that goes into it. Just seems like such a lot of work! Great, fun read with some important messages around body image and self love

For a book written by an Historian I was dismayed at the clear bias displayed.
While there is no doubt a lot of factual detail there was also a fair amount of speculation which was clearly showing a tendency toward favour over some members of the Royal family.
There was some interesting information regarding how the monarchy works. But overall I didn‘t think this was much more than tabloid fodder itself.

Aside from the interesting premise, the narration of the story is what draws you in. We have the log book written by Michael and current day Juliet giving her perspective of both the times shared on the boat but also her insight into past events.
This novel touches on many themes including survival, love and marriage; the trials, the joys and how we can end up so far from where we began.

The Last House Guest ~ Megan Miranda. I picked this up randomly from the library based on the cover, Miranda had also written All The Missing Girls which I had enjoyed. I devoured this book in a day. It was fast paced and intriguing. Just what I needed to emerge from my recent reading funk.

Miss Julia may speak her mind, but my goodness, she is a fool. Finding out her husband has fathered an illegitimate child she proceeds to act in ridiculous ways. I found Miss Julia to be naive. I did enjoy the conclusion though. I‘m
All in favour of a situation which brings women together rather than pull them apart.

A very cute story about Matilda Pages (incidentally one of my favourite girl names) who lives as an orphan in her grandparents bookstore. One day she discovers she can enter her favourite book worlds and interact with the characters. This leads to her pursuing the mystery of her parents. I am not the intended demographic for this story but can say it had some lovely moments which would be great for young readers

I‘m currently reading “The Invisible Load” by Libby Weaver. One of the contributing factors to anxiety and stress she identifies is that of being “The Rememberer”. You know, the person in a relationship who has to remember everything.

The Lying Game ~ Ruth Ware This was a slow burn for me and at times felt like it dragged, but the story was worth it. It is a story of the bonds of friendship and the lies we tell. But what I really loved was the setting, in a small English seaside town where the marshes are a character in themselves.

I read to see if it was a text I could use for my Year 10's next year. Set many years in the future, natural and accidental death is a past problem. Illness is unheard of and people can be revived from any attempt at death.
Rowan and Citra are apprenticed into the career of scythes, those appointed with controlling the population. Has some interesting moral dilemmas which I am sure will ignite conversations and challenge beliefs in the classroom

I admit it, I was sucked in by the cover. A hearse in a wood? Yes please!
The original summary I read made me think it was a murder investigation. It's not.
Instead it is about friendship with betrayal as a central theme. 
Not what I was expecting and after reading a few online reviews I nearly didn't even start it but am glad I did. It was character driven and while I struggled to relate to the main character, I'm glad I persisted.

It is about two sixth grade students, Elbie and Joey who run into some ghosts at the school library. It is a mystery rather than a horror which kept me interested.
One thing I particularly appreciated about this story was the inclusion of Joey's Aspergers. I think it is really important for kids with aspergers to see themselves in a book but also for others to understand the challenges of this syndrome.
A great read especially for young readers

An interesting read about a family who pack up and travel the world. Didn‘t really go in to a lot of details about the logistics of working and learning while on the move. But a nice overall summary.

A quick read.

A beautifully written story about four siblings trying to cope with life after ‘The Pause‘, a time when they are bound together by the freedom and responsibilities forced upon them. This made me think about our roles in familial relationships and how they‘re created. I could definitely relate to the two older sisters who take on the roles of not just care givers but the responsibility of the invisible load, the carrying of the worry for others.

This book took me awhile to get into for a number of reasons. 1. The life situation I was in (away with a lot of family, very loud) 2. Not really into ghost stories.
But. When I got to the heart of the story I was enthralled, just needed to focus away from the ghost aspect and focus on the mystery of Vivian.
Hearing from both Vivian and Carly was brilliant seeing how their paths were aligned and how they unravelled the two mysteries.

There was a lot going on in this book. The inciting incident occurs after we fumble our way through a catch up between two friends who have become disconnected, much like my interest as the novel progressed.
Through the story we navigate troubled relationships, medical woes, workplace issues, financial struggles and so many more I lost track. Or just didn‘t care about.
The beginning hooked me so hard but honestly then just teetered off.

This was a delightful combination of history, romance and a little bit of mystery. Set in Tehran we meet Roya who is about to embark on her first love affair, aside from books. At the same time, Iran is undergoing a coup with many dangers with unknown allies and friends. This is the story of the devastating events and familial ideals to impact on young love. As an aside, the descriptions of Persian food will have you positively salivating!

This is a powerful story showing the process of manipulation undertaken to enable abuse to occur so thoroughly.
This book made me think not only about how we view allegations of abuse and more often than not, vilify the victims but also the power imbalance already underway and how these actions enforce that even more.
Lots to think about in this timely novel, I was surprised it was Russell‘s first novel and I look forward to more!

It tells the story of Josie who has just found the dreaded evidence on her husbands phone.
We then go with Josie through a variation of present day and flashback chapters which details the extent she goes to to reveal the betrayal and her own examination of their marriage through the years piecing together where it all fell apart.
This is raw and real and explores all our questions of what we would do if placed in this situation.

The story centres around Henri, his son Samuel and ex-lover Edwina. Henri has never met Samuel and many years ago spawned Edwina‘s love. It is on his way to rectify one of these relationships that he is hit by a car and enters a comatose state.
Death is something that is very much at the forefront of my experiences lately and this book makes us consider the choices we make everyday about who we are and what path we are on.

I don‘t even know where to begin.

I cannot stress this enough. This book is important. So important I have ordered my own copy to highlight and take notes in the margin.
My learning experience in the wilderness has begun.
I need to develop my strong back but also work on soft front.
I need to honour my wild heart.
Thank you.

Poor Sadie. She has been moved to Maine with her husband and two sons to take guardianship of a house and niece under tragic circumstances. It is clear from the beginning that Sadie is grappling with some issues from her past and it‘s only going to get worse, especially when she meets the troubled niece and a murder occurs in their neighbourhood.
This was unpredictable and absolutely terrifying. You just never really know people do you?

The premise of this book is intriguing, “What if we told the truth about our life?”.
We first meet Monica who finds the little green book with the first story. As the novel progresses we meet a wider cast of interesting characters and hear more about their lives. By the end you feel as though you are part of their stories. I keep coming back to the premise she poses, what is our truth? And are we able to be honest enough to actually tell it?

I
The story of Count Alexander Rostov is set in Hotel Metropol in Moscow. He has been put under house arrest and must reside there for the remainder of his days.
What days they are!
Towles tale is one of love, friendship, loyalty and how a fulfilling life can be found anywhere if you are curious and interested. There is a mixture of historical information, civility lessons and general advice on how to live a real life with depth and meaning.

This is a story about family, ambition and beer. Told by three women in different time settings, we meet Edith, Helen and Diana. We learn about a betrayal of one sister to another in the quest for success. Diana, the granddaughter of Edith pursues a similar path but with integrity if not a little moral ambiguity along the way.
Stradal has written a beautiful character driven story set in the Mid-West with a style reminiscent of Fannie Flagg.

This book at first appears to be another feel good, chick lit story with a predictable ending.
It is the story of Leon and Tiffy. They share a flat and a bed, just not at the same time. They both have their own unique issues to work through before we can get to the satisfying part of seeing them happy and at peace with what life has thrown at them.
This is a well told story with two main characters you are rooting for all the way.

The story is told in two timelines, 1950 and 2014. The latter is told by Fiona, a journalist trying to get to the bottom of her sisters murder and the role a girls boarding school had in it. The 1950 storyline is based at the school and centres around the lives of four friends coming to terms with their misplaced roles in society.
Running through both stories is a ghostly presence tying them together.

The story is well told and I always enjoy an epistolary novel, however, this one was just not a favourite. This is just a personal preference and in no way a reflection of Semples ability as a writer.
I just don‘t care for women like Bernadette. A little kooky, irresponsible and artistic. Sadly, I think that‘s because she reminds me of my mother and my childhood. It just brings up those memories, ones I‘m not really comfortable with.

Inspector Alan Grant is holed up in a hospital ward going out of his mind with boredom when a friend brings photographs to keep his enquiring mind busy. Among them is a photograph of Richard III, this sparks an interest in the rumour he murdered his nephews.
An interesting tale of the Plantagenets rule with loads of historical details. One thing I took away from the novel was both the story, place and concept of ‘Tonypandy‘. This was a quick read.

Poor old Martha Storm! She volunteers at the local library where it seems her service and devotion to service of others is taken for granted. One day an old book an old book appears with a mysterious message for Martha. This event sets Martha on a path of discovery, both about herself and her family history.
A lovely, feel good book which makes you cheer on Martha as she finally begins to look out for herself.

It was very informative about decision making within the Supreme Court and how the judges work together. I also found the work she has done in making the law and constitution more up to date in terms of how the genders are addressed fascinating and thought provoking. It provided some great insight into the Notorious RBG and as a non-American, I found it enlightening.

The themes I took from this novel were; the bond between a brother and sister at the cost of others, the way we view the past and how it can impact upon our lives, the way holding on to grudges or wrongs can end up costing us more.
The Dutch House was another beautiful story from Ann Patchett. She has a bloody great way of weaving a story and, with little fanfare? making a study of human nature. She is becoming one of my favourite authors.

Elizabeth Bergs books are like warm security blankets.
Night of Miracles follows on from The Story of Arthur Truluv with the characters of Lucille and Maddy adding others along the way. It highlights friendships and how we react to events in our lives, where we land, what we do with them.
One fault with this book is that Berg does not include the recipes of Lucille‘s wonderful baking. The descriptions of which will have you salivating.

The River is a story of two young men who embark on an adventure down the Maskwa River in Canada. Along the way they meet with a large wildfire and a domestic dispute. Both add some drama to a beautiful tale which begins as an ode to nature and adventure.
Heller explores many themes in this short novel including friendship, a love of literature, The wilderness, survival and the importance of listening to your intuition.

Bess and her husband have taken over the family business in small town Greyhill after a humiliating incident in Washington. An independent job opportunity seems to offer a insight into the nature of the town and a source of support.
From an overbearing Mother-in-law to a cast of local ‘mean girls‘ this novel shows the worst of women and how gossip is a nasty little machine and you should never believe all that you hear.

I initially picked this up because of the cover. I am also a sucker for a story about an antique shop. I enjoyed the setting, Marlborough, and the historical details of Ley Lines, Blind Houses, Great Chalfield Manor and the functions of Chatelaines. I love History and I love anything connected to England so these aspects of the story stood out to me.

The story is based around the Strick family. A horrifying and sad event occurs right at the beginning seen through the eyes of Astrid. This begins the story of a period in time for the family, we get to hear from each family member with their own experiences, memories and interpretations of past events. In essence the story is an ode to parenting, asks and attempts to answer the eternal question we have, are we doing it right?

This is my third Kavanagh novel and oh, my, it did not disappoint! DS Alice Parr comes across a random attack but something ignites within Alice and she becomes like a dog with a bone, pursuing a case which just keeps leading down a number of paths.
Kavanagh‘s stories are original. The plots are interesting and she keeps the twists coming! She plays around with themes of identity and the idea that what you see is not necessarily true.

I initially struggled with this book, I‘m not sure why because once I got past the block, I fell in love. January is an unusual heroine but her story is particularly timely in the times we find ourselves in, the treatment of non-whites makes solid commentary. This is a love letter to words, doors, books and strong women.

Brown Girl Dreaming ~ Jacqueline Woodson

I listened to this on audio, read by the author. Her voice was beautiful, adding to the poetry. I loved the stories of the South,the feeling of absolute belonging you feel when you‘re with your people.
Woodson tells great stories of the Civil Rights Movement, from King to the Panthers. This was a lovely collection and gave some interesting insights into her childhood but also her journey as a true
Writer.

This is the fourth instalment of the Quinn family saga.

Hildebrand has taken where we left off and developed each of the characters in interesting, and some sad, ways. Her characters are flawed, as we all are. This makes them all relatable and have us cheering them on!
Nantucket is its own character but honestly doesn‘t compare to her summer reads in quite the same way.
A lovely conclusion to the series.

This book made me so uncomfortable.
The title is, of course, taken from the name of a popular game designed to manipulate people into sharing secrets. It‘s in the same vein as ‘Truth or Dare‘. They create a sense of camaraderie and confession.
I do not like these games.
A very well told story with twists you just do not see coming.
This is my first Joshilyn Jackson novel but I‘m 💯 confident it won‘t be the last!

I‘m not usually a fan of this genre but was pleasantly surprised! A well told story with elements of mystery, history, science, romance, politics and relationships. All great ingredients for a story. I listened to it on audio and highly rate the quality of the narrators, I specifically liked the characters of Kara and the unknown narrator. I will definitely be tuning into the sequel.

The Turner House touches on many topics; self care, psychology, addiction, family and marriage issues to name a few. A good book to me, is one that makes me think about wider issues, focuses on relationships while gives me some historical information and an insight into how other people live and their experiences. This totally ticks all those boxes and more.