Tag: Fiction

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Roughly a year ago, I read ‘The Silent Patient‘ by Alex Michaelides and enjoyed it. So, ‘The Maidens’ has been on my radar since. When a beautiful copy of the hardback was to be found in my charity bookshop a month or so ago, I knew I could not leave it sitting in there, and it had to come home with me.

I am so glad that this book did come home with me as I absolutely loved it. This was the sort of thriller that really did have you on the edge of your seat and makes you read past your bedtime. I loved the fact that it was set around the academic world of Cambridge and that it drew on the ideas of Ancient Greece, its literature and philosophers. Alongside the fact that there always seems to be an air of mystery to that academic life, ‘The Maidens’ is a complex and thrilling read.

Alex Michaelides is very successful at planting red herrings or suggestions within his stories, which can lead the reader down a certain path. Suspecting certain characters and maybe even thinking that they have solved the mystery, however, I think the reader is rarely successful until the final pages of the book, when Michaelides actually reveals his culprit. I did not see the plot twist coming in this book and I think that is an additional reason why I enjoyed this story so much.

I absolutely can’t wait to read more from the pen of Alex Michaelides, I believe that there is a new novel heading our way soon, as I think his books will go from strength to strength. I thought ‘The Silent Patient’ was outstanding, but ‘The Maidens’ topped that, which is quite an achievement. These are atmospheric, chilling and thrilling reads – so, if you have not given either title a go, why not – because you are missing out.

The Vintage Shop of Second Chances by Libby Page

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Libby Page is an author that has only come to my attention this year – when I read ‘The Lido‘ and loved it just as much as everyone else I know in the Bookstagram world. So, as a treat, I dedicated some reading time to ‘The Vintage Shop of Second Chances’ to kick start the summer break – and I am so glad that I did. This book is just beautiful, and I even shed a little tear.

Lou decides to finally follow her dream and start a vintage clothes shop back in her home town. In this shop hangs a beautiful yellow dress that belonged to her mother, but little does she know that the beautiful yellow dress is going to take her on a whole adventure. (And that is all that I am going to give you on the plot, as I really believe that you need to read this book). But, alongside her, Maggy and Donna also embark on adventures that they were not expecting and, together with Lou, learn something about themselves that they were probably not expecting. In fact, everyone has a second chance – but you will have to read it to find out what they may be.

Something that Libby Page does brilliantly is not just give us strong female characters, but also beautiful friendships across the generation gap. I love that the characters do not ever seem to be just friends with peers, but it demonstrates that friendship can blossom between all sorts of people and for all sorts of different reasons. This makes the story even more special.

This is a fabulous read about family, friendship, community and self-discovery. It proves that you are never too old to learn something new or make a fresh start – and that you should never be scared to do either.

If you are a fan of Libby Page, I would love to know what your favourite book is.

The Family Retreat by Bev Thomas

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

This month’s Tasting Notes Book Club title is ‘The Family Retreat’ by Bev Thomas.

I was not sure what to expect from this book as, I am sure you have gathered by now, I do not read blurbs – so the only idea had about it was that it may be considered a psychological thriller. Although, if you judged a book by its cover, I am not sure if that is the category that you would place it into as a reader.

However, having now read the book, I am not sure that I would consider it a psychological thriller. In fact, I am not even sure it is a thriller. It seems more like a piece of contemporary fiction, but it certainly evokes an atmosphere of the long English summer.

This book is told from the point of view of Jess, an overworked GP who is taking some time away from London with her family. We soon learn that this may not just be a simple family holiday, but that there is more to her decision to take this break. She meets a number of different characters during her time away, who all seem to have their own struggles, which Jess appears to get drawn into. The timeline of this tale is not always strictly chronological; there are moments when Jess reflects on events in the past, which for me did cause a little confusion in the story, and I am not sure they always really added to the narrative.

There are a large number of issues covered in this book, such as mental health issues and unhealthy, controlling relationships. I understand that it is important that such issues are covered in books, but I did feel that in this book there were a number of issues covered and maybe this led to them feeling like they had been touched on rather than fully tackled. They did not neccessarily add to the narrative of the story, although it can not be denied that it could and should start conversations about some of these issues.

This is certainly a book that will be worth discussing by book clubs and book groups – I think it will create a whole range of different opinions.

The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I was lucky enough to win a dedicated copy of ‘The People on Platform 5’ by Clare Pooley and I was so incredibly excited. Although I had been late to the party with ‘The Authenticity Project‘, only having read it about a year ago, I knew I could not leave ‘The People on Platform 5’ on my shelf for quite so long. So, I chose it for the prompt of ‘Joy’ from ‘The Unread Shelf Project 2023’.

And this book did bring me so much joy. As someone who commutes on the train everyday, I loved the idea that people on the train may not be afraid to speak to each other, and even form friendships. Clare Pooley creates a wonderful collection of characters who are thrown together by catching the same train every day. They may not seem like the usual people you would put together to make friends, but they help each other in different ways – and probably each needed the others even if they did not realise it.

Iona, almost the matriarch of the story, is one of the greatest characters to grace the pages of a book. She is definitely someone who proves that growing older does not mean that you have to give up on life. And she proves that to so many around her, with a little bit of help from her friends. (I quite like her rules for the commute too; I may have to employ some of them in my routine). There are so many fantastic people that Iona manages to bring together and support in realising how important or special they are in their own way. You will certainly enjoy finding out more about them, just as Iona does.

This is a fantastically uplifting read, leaving you feeling full of joy as you finish the final line. Just like ‘The Authenticity Project’, it is going to become a book that I recommend to so many people, because I want everyone to be able to be reminded that there is a lot of good in the world. And that it is never too late to aim for what you really want, or to make the change that will make you happy.

Hostage by Clare Mackintosh

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I have only recently discovered the books of Clare Mackintosh and I am so glad that I have as she writes a great thriller. And my thriller and crime phase does not seem to have left me yet – it must be the escapism of it all.

‘Hostage’ was a little bit of a slow burn of a book but once the pace picked up I could not put it down and needed to know what was going to happen next. I do not want to give any of this story away, it definitely needs to be read to be appreciated without any spoilers. However, I was impressed that the real twist came at the very, very end of the book. And it was a twist that I genuinely did not see coming; it was a very clever move by Clare Mackintosh.

I am not sure the characters were particularly likeable in this book but they were fascinating. You needed to find out more about them and try to understand the decisions that they make. I was often left contemplating what I would have done in some of their situations. It was definitely a strong study of human nature and emotion.

Despite this book having been published in 2021, it is one that still felt very bang up to date, with some of the references made to some of the social and political issues within the plot are ones that we seem to still be and possibly always will be facing in the twenty-first century.

Just with the last book I read by Clare Mackintosh (The Last Party), I am keen to read more. Maybe they will pop up in my summer reading over the next few weeks, although I must remember that I should be shopping my shelves – haha!

The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

The second of ‘The Seven Sisters’ brings us the story of ‘The Storm Sister’ – the second sister, Ally.

I was gripped by this book from the first page, just as I had been when I picked up ‘The Seven Sisters‘. Ally is an adventurer; she is a yachtswoman and is about to embark on her latest adventure when she hears of the death of Pa Salt. As her life changes the path she thought it was following, she decides that, like her sister, she will follow the clues that have been left by Pa Salt to see if she can find out a little more about her roots. This adventure takes the reader to Europe – Norway to be precise – as she discovers that her other musical talent may have come from her ancestors as she unravels their story.

The way that Lucinda Riley weaves the sense of mystery and discovery into these stories makes them real page-turners. The dual timelines leave you wanting to find out more all the time, as the reader wants to know the answers to the mysterious past, and how the clues and discoveries may impact the future for Ally.

By the end of the book, I was fully rooting for Ally to have a happy ending; I felt after all the adventure of the book she deserved that. And I felt like I had been on another wonderful adventure (just adding Norway to places I would definitely like to visit). It always makes me want to find out more about my family history, because I think it is so fascinating to find out where we have come from and how that may impact who we are today – even if we may not realise it.

I am very much ready to find out more about the Seven Sisters, and I think it is safe to say that ‘The Shadow Sister’ will be on my summer reading list, as I am keen to find out about Star and her family past.

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I was kindly added to a readalong for ‘The Wind Knows My Name’ by Isabel Allende. So, I was gifted a proof of the book to allow me to join in, so thank you again Tandem Collective UK. I was very excited, as this was my first encounter with Allende’s work; I have seen it around a lot but I was not sure that her books were for me. They always seemed to be something that may be a little highbrow for me. Yet again, how wrong I was – in fact, I am now going to be trying to read her backlist (along with all those other books I promise myself I will read).

‘The Wind Knows my Name’ is a beautifully crafted piece of historical fiction that takes use from the tragic night of Kristallnacht in the 1930s right up to the present day. This book explores the idea of displacement of people due to the difficult and dangerous social and political situations that they have lived through with their families, causing them to flee for the hope of a better life. And, what Allende does so cleverly is bring some of her characters together from very different backgrounds, but who all have the shared experience of displacement – allowing them to form relationships and support for each other.

This book is heartbreaking and hopeful in equal measure. It is incredibly thought-provoking as its timeline becomes more and more contemporary, and you see the issues we sometimes think are left in the past are still continuing, every day, around the world. And, in fact, you will be wanting to find out more about the events that she has chosen to pick out to create her narrative.

I think it is fairly clear that I will be trying more of Allende’s novels. So, if you have any recommendations, please let me know in the comments.

The Detective by Ajay Chowdhury

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

If you love a great piece of detective fiction, well, then you will love ‘The Detective’ by Ajay Chowdhury.

This is a crime novel that is right up to date but cleverly also entwines a crime from the past. We follow Detective Kamil as he attempts to impress his new team at the Met. Can he solve the mystery of a series of murders linked to a cyber company that is about to be sold for millions? And what exactly is it about the company that makes it so valuable – is it all it seems? Also, who are the skeletons that have been found at the scene of the first murder? After all, they are over 100 years old…

As you know, I do not write reviews that contain spoilers, but I do hope I spark your interest in the book. I mean, I was really interested in Detective Kamil and his case; Ajay Chowdury creates fantastic characters who are involved in a highly engaging mystery. I would quite like to sit down with Detective Kamil and find out a bit more about him (or just read the previous two books to find out a bit more – which I am definitely tempted to do). But he also brings the murder mystery exploding into the 21st century as he tackles some of the issues that we are facing today. Especially the idea about how much do these cyber companies know? Do we always know what is happening behind the scenes and with our data?

If you like a well-constructed, contemporary page-turner, then I would recommend you pick up ‘The Detective’, because you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Harvell Sacker for the gifted copy of this fantastic read.

A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I had seen ‘A Terrible Kindness’ all over the bookstagram world, and it was always getting so much love with every post and review that I saw. So, when Jo Browning Wroe was announced as one of the authors for ‘The Tasting Notes Live 2023’, I knew I had to read the book that had been sitting on my shelf.

And what an incredible read it is – inspired by the work of the embalmers at the Aberfan disaster in 1966, this tells the story of William, a young embalmer from the West Midlands who goes to help, and what he experiences but also tells us how William ended up on the career path he is on which brings him to that tragic event.

This is a beautifully told story, which Jo Browning Wroe has carefully researched and sensitively presented to the reader. This has not been written to shock but to remember and educate. The events of Aberfan are the start and end of the tale, with William’s childhood and early adulthood as the main focus of the story.

‘A Terrible Kindness’ brings to life some fantastic characters, examines how the people we meet influence our lives and how complex those relationships can be – but also how tragedy and the relationships we make throughout our lives can influence so much of what we do and who we become.

For me also, the fact there were some places I know very well mentioned in the book, I felt a connection to the book, or I could see characters in particular places which always brings a story to life just that little bit more.

This is a book that I will be recommending to everyone because I think we would all like to meet William and his family and friends. Also, having heard Jo Browning Wroe talk about this book, I know how much research and passion went into this book and I think she has treated the memory of what happened at Aberfan with such respect that it will ensure that those who were tragically impacted by the events will be remembered and acknowledged, and never forgotten.

People Person by Candice Carty-Williams

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Thank you Tandem Collective UK for having me along for a buddy read of ‘People Person’ by Candice Carty-Williams, and gifting me a copy of the book too. What a treat for the May half-term break.

I had been a big fan of ‘Queenie‘ so I had high hopes for this book. And it did not disappoint. ‘People Person’ is a fantastic study of people (I guess the title gives that away) and their relationships. It especially reflects on the idea of family and what makes a family what it is.

We meet a group of siblings, who all have the same father, Cyril, but different mothers. Different women that Cyril met throughout his younger days, and promised the world to, but did not hang around to deliver. Each of the five siblings has handled this differently over the years, and they have rarely spent a lot of time together. However, when Dimple needs a team around her, after a difficult encounter with her on/off boyfriend Kyron, her siblings are all there for her, in their different ways. Even if, like Lizzie, they are a little reluctant in some ways.

Dimple is really the central character to this story, as she is the one who calls the siblings back together and it is her relationships that form the focus of the story. Dimple really goes on a journey of self-discovery as she finds out more about each of her siblings, and this forces her to reflect on the relationships she has with her father and her mother (who never really seems to have got over Cyril – and who Cyril may have had on a pedestal all those years, too).

I really enjoyed the reflection of nature versus nurture, how each of the siblings had little to do with their father and had been brought up just by their mother – yet their experiences had been very different but still similar. Some had a harder time than others, some were much happier than others but, all in all, they do realise that maybe they do need each other. There is also a clear investigation on how the past of parents can impact the future of their children.

I do not like to spoil books in my posts (as you know, and I say it nearly every time) but if you enjoyed ‘Queenie’, I think you will enjoy this. If you enjoy family drama (rather than saga), I think you will enjoy this. And, if you like strong female characters, then I think you will like this. Candice Carty-Williams writes characters and relationships brilliantly, and this is a book that is worth picking up.