There's nothing better than a shelf of TBR books to sink your teeth into

Midnight In Everwood- M.A.Kuzniar

In this novel we follow Marietta, a young lady born to wealthy parents who’s biggest desire is to dance ballet at a prestigious school. However, her parents have different plans for her and expect poor Marietta to become a bride and a housewife. Trapped by potential suiter Drosselmeir, in a room of his making on Christmas eve, Marietta finds herself transported to a whole new world that goes by the name of Everwood. We follow as she discovers this enchanting world full of sugar, strange characters and magic, and becomes ensnared by the politics surrounding this new world. The question is, does she manage to find her way back to her own world before it’s too late?

I really enjoyed this nutcracker re-telling. Full of Christmas magic and nostalgia. To start with I found the language slightly difficult to get used to but only because it is a different writing style to which I would normally read. However, the more I read the more i got used to and further enjoyed this writing style. It matched well with the era in which the story is set, the early 1900’s.

The description of settings, both Nottingham and Everwood were beautiful and I instantly wished to be transported to this setting. The metaphors and analogies regarding sweet treats to describe Everwood were extremely clever. Kuzniar has written a very compelling novel here and I felt myself longing to visit Everwood.

I loved the character’s they all had so much depth to them, particularly Marietta. Her character was extremely well written and very likeable. Dr.Drosselmeier was also written convincingly as the villain of this story and I really hated him by the end.

The only reason this was not a five star read for me was that I felt the story got a little repetative and slow in the middle when Marietta was trapped in the sugar palace. However, as far as debut novels go, this was very good! I’m definitely looking forward to future novels from M.A.Kuzniar.

I would recommend this to any nutcracker fans or anyone looking for cozy christmas vibes.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

The Spanish Love Deception- Elena Armas

The Spanish Love Deception is a romantic comedy novel where the main character Lina has to find a fake boyfriend for her sister’s wedding at very short notice. This story is your typical fake dating, friends to lovers story so if you like those tropes, this is most likely the book for you. I decided to read this one after discovering how popular it was on booktok/bookstagram.

I found this difficult to get into at the start as I really have to be in the mood for romance and those tropes aren’t really my favourite, however once I got a third of the way through, I could definitely see the draw. It started off slow and then seemed perhaps a little rushed at the end so I would say the pacing was off slightly.

As for the characters, I didn’t feel that connected or attached to them which is perhaps why I didn’t feel enthralled by the story, however they were all very likeable (except Daniel) and I loved the strong sense of family and loyalty this story presented.

In regards to the plot and setting I was a little disappointed. The book is set in both Spain and England and going into this I thought we would predominantly be based in Spain (as that is where the wedding is set) however, most of the story felt like it was set in England and so perhaps that is why I feel a little bit let down. I found the story to be very predictable and a little bit cliché but I guess that comes with the genre and the tropes already discussed and so should be expected. I personally prefer my reads to have more plot twists and cliff-hangers and if you are the same then perhaps this book isn’t for you.

Overall, I would say this is an easy, fun and romantic holiday read, perfect for the summer months, however, don’t go into this expecting any ground-breaking plot twists. This is perfect for rom com fans and for some reason gave vibes from the film The Proposal.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Lie Still- Julia Heaberlin

Lie Still by Julia Heaberlin tells the story of a young expectant mother called Emily who moves to a new town in Texas with her husband to start a new life. Her husband accepts a new job as the head police chief of Clairmont. This story has two plots and the reader is left to question whether these two stories are connected. The first story follows the missing person case of Caroline, head of the prestigious ‘club’ that all of the female elite in the town are desperate to be a member of. After Emily’s initial meeting with Caroline, she goes missing and suspicion arises when a cocktail of drugs is found next to her bed. The new police chief is in charge of the investigation which puts our main character in a difficult position when the elite of the town encourage her to dissuade her husband from looking too closely into the case, with many secrets swamping the town that everyone is desperate to keep buried. However, Caroline is the keeper of all secrets and after she goes missing, the secrets slowly start to spread.

The second plot of this story is Emily’s personal story, a past she is desperate to escape that seems to be chasing her to this new town. When Emily starts to receive messages and newspaper clippings of the incident and someone breaks into her house, she is left wondering if the person after her is the same person responsible for Caroline’s disappearance and whether she is next.

I was surprised by this book. Initially, I was dubious, I had never heard of it and received it in a book subscription box so I wouldn’t say it was something I would have picked up myself. However, it quickly became one of those hidden gems that you stumble upon by chance and would recommend to a friend. I enjoyed the prestigious ‘club’ aspect which made me feel like I was reading a murder mystery version of the Stepford Wives.

Whilst the beginning of the story was strong, I would say that the ending wasn’t as strong as I had hoped. Some of the choices made were a little bit puzzling and the ending I felt could have been executed better but I really enjoyed the setting and the concept so I overall pleasantly surprised by this one.

I would recommend this to any thriller readers. Why not give this a go, it might surprise you like it did me!

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5

A Little Life- Hanya Yanigahara

I’ve just finished reading this book after raking two months to trawl through it and I have very mixed thoughts.

I’ll start by saying, this book was rated five stars by so many Goodreads users, but I only rated it 2.5 stars… I don’t understand the hype around this one. The writing style was interesting because it didn’t feel like it had any particular style. Each ‘part’ felt different. This can predominantly be attributed to the multiple points of view and the inconsistent narrators. In some instances you know straight away who is speaking but in others you are left guessing. These are often the most haunting chapters. I liked this chaotic way of telling the story; in some ways, this could reflect Jude’s state of mind and his chaotic thoughts.

In terms of the characters, I did like most of them, however, I did find that I kept getting frustrated with some of the decisions they made (predominantly William, Harold, and Andy) and these were often in regards to their attitude to Jude’s self-harm. I felt there were so many times they should have taken more serious/immediate intervention. However, I guess the beauty of this book is the author’s ability to discuss difficult situations and question what you would do. It is easy for the reader to critique these situations, but when you are making them for the ones you love, it is a completely different ball game.

The main issue I had with this book was the amount and level of trauma included. I feel that the level of trauma was so high that it began to lose its effect on me. There were certain situations where I felt like should be crying but instead, I was just thinking ‘How could another bad thing happen to this character?’ Whilst discussing this with my friend we agreed that it almost feels like trauma porn. I also feel like I predicted the end from the start, which most people probably did as this isn’t the type of story that has some sort of out-of-the-blue plot twist, it’s not meant to be, but I found this made me enjoy the book less because I prefer books with suspense and unpredictable plot twists. If that is what you are looking for, this isn’t that type of book.

I struggled to make my way through this book and found myself counting down the pages until I made it to the end and to be honest I was excited to finish this book so that I could read something more happy and upbeat. That being said, this is a very popular book and there are a lot of readers who have rated this five stars, it just wasn’t to my taste. I would still recommend this book to anyone who likes books that are predominantly about character development and complex relationships.

The man who mistook his wife for a hat- Dr.Oliver Sacks

An eclectic collection of interesting and strange medical cases, ‘The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat’ takes readers on a journey through Sacks’ career and the complexities of the human mind. This non-fiction describes various conditions that can affect the brain and how clinicians can help these patients.

Overall, coming from a scientific background, I found this book very interesting. I particularly liked that this is a collection of short essays that Sacks has collated. Some of the essays were more interesting than others, and I frequently found that I would get lost in some of the medical terminology.

My particular favorites included ‘Passage to India’ and ‘Murder’. ‘Passage to India’ is a really sad story that tells the story of a 19-year-old girl dying from a brain tumor. In her last few days, she sees ‘visions’ of India where she is from. This had an impact on me as a reader because the girl passed away so young. I feel like the message ‘make the most of the time you have got because you don’t know how much time you have left’ really resonated with me in this one.

‘Murder’ I found to be interesting and unlike anything I have read before. It’s a story that I found scientifically fascinating, intellectually interesting, and just generally bizarre. It follows a man who murders his girlfriend but has no recollection of this until he is involved in an accident where his memory of the event is restored in the form of nightmares. This is a story I will remember and puzzle over for a long time.

I would recommend this book to any science nerds out there like me or anyone just interested in how the human brain works. Just be careful as this story does cover some quite difficult topics.

How the Pill changes everything

-Dr. Sarah .E .Hill

Description

How the pill changes everything is a monumental novel that explores the scientific principal of how the contraceptive pill works from altering your hormonal make-up to altering your body. Amongst this is a clever discussion on the impacts this has on various women, both positive and negative impacts. In particular there is detailed discussion about women’s mental health, both on and off the pill.

My Review

If I could describe this book in one sentence it would be ‘eye-opening’. I had no idea how much hormonal birth control could affect a woman’s body, both mentally and physically until I read this book. I went on an educational journey whilst reading this book, one I didn’t even realise I needed until I turned the last page. Admittedly it took me a long time to finish this book, but that is not because I didn’t enjoy it, it is because there are a lot of ideas, concepts and scientific content to work through. The author does a good job of simplifying medical jargon whilst still making the information accurate and relevant. The use of diagrams was helpful to drive home the key points and scientific findings. The chapters are structured well throughout with the basic principals of the female body first and more complex findings and theory’s discussed later. Dr. Sarah.E.Hill does well to reference other key points mentioned in previous chapters to tie in with the new information she gives us. Overall this was a very informative and useful read, one I would recommend to any woman on or considering to go on the contraceptive pill.

Rating

The Paris Apartment- Lucy Foley

In The Paris Apartment, we follow Jess who travels to Paris to stay with her brother Ben. Upon arriving at her Ben’s apartment, Jess discovers that her brother has gone missing. The story follows how Jess tries to uncover the mystery of Ben’s disappearance whilst confronted with the other unusual residents of the apartment block. The longer Jess stays in Paris the more she comes to realise that everything is not as it seems.

Overall I did enjoy this book, it was a quick easy read that had me turning the pages just so I could uncover the truth. However, I did find this story to be slightly disappointing. As one of my most anticipated reads of the year I had high hopes for this story to take me through a series of plot twists that would leave me with whiplash but unfortunately, this was not the case. I found a lot of the plot twists to be fairly predictable and although I didn’t guess exactly how the ending would play out, I guessed the culprit from quite early on in the book. Personally, I much prefer my mysteries to leave me reeling with shock. However, the ending allowed for the plot to be tidied nicely with no loose ends which is a common problem I am finding with thrillers, at the moment.

In regards to the character’s, I found that the secondary characters were more interesting than the main character which makes no sense. Jess just seemed a bit two dimensional to me, there were no layers to peel back as the story progressed she just came across as a stereotypical young female character hitting a hard time in her life, I would have liked to see her character to be more complex. As a result of this I found it hard to connect with her making the story drag in places where there was a lot of internal monologue. The side characters Nick and Mimi I found more interesting and so I found myself speeding through the chapters penned from their point of view. These two at least seemed like they had more layers and a more complex back story.

As a main focus, the apartment is used most often for the setting of the story which of course makes sense as it is named The Paris apartment, however, I feel like a change in scenery a little more often would have made the story a little more refreshing. Hence, the scene in La Petit Morte and the bakery were key plot points I remember and enjoyed because they stand out from the rest of the story that was set within the same four walls.

The writing itself I did struggle with at times. It felt very simplistic and sometimes like the main character was thinking and speaking like a child, which seeing as Jess was supposed to be a twenty-something-year-old woman, seemed a bit odd at times. Although upon reflection, Jess’ character is supposed to come from a poor background with an aspect of self survival so perhaps this was intentional to reflect the struggles of our main character. Even so, I did still struggle with the writing style at points throughout this book and at times internally cringed.

Despite this review coming off as really negative, I did quite enjoy the story, it was simple and fast-paced I just don’t think it is a thriller I am going to actively remember for a long time going forward. The ending was good, not beyond disbelief which was the main thing for me. If you are interested in reading a light, fast paced thriller with a closed circle cast set in a beautiful city like Paris, then maybe this should be your next read.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

The Christmas Murder Game- Alexandra Benedict

I absolutely raced through this book which just goes to show how much I enjoyed it. The majority of the character’s were loveable (and hateable) and generally well written. The only problem was that sometimes the main character (Lily) annoyed me. I wanted her to just stick up for herself which she never did.

As for the plot I felt it was very cleverly written until the very end. If I am honest the ending did disappoint me a little bit. It was much more obvious than it could have been, I feel there was so much potential for this ending , a more complex and clever ending, but it just seemed to be wasted.

I liked the little games and riddles the author left for us throughout the book, this was unique. I also particularly enjoyed how the story was themed around the 12 days of Christmas. Overall, an enjoyable murder mystery but five stars would be a bit too generous as I felt it fell a bit flat at the end.

Overall, I would recommend this book to any thriller reader who wants to read something Christmas themed, particularly during the festive season.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Malibu Rising- Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Riva family is a family of outrageous talent, singers, surfers, and models. In this story, we journey through two different timelines, the 60’s and the 80’s, following the Riva family. Starting with June and Mik Riva we are taken through a journey of first loves, family, and betrayal. Then, we jump forward twenty years and follow the children of Mik Riva. In the present timeline, the Riva children are organizing their annual end-of-summer party as we are introduced to the four Riva children and the careers they have chosen. In the past, we are shown how the Riva children found their love for surfing and how Mik and June first fell in love.

I was pleasantly surprised by this story. After reading Daisy Jones and the Six and not getting the hype, I was a bit apprehensive about starting this one. However, unpopular opinion, I much preferred this one! I was very pleasantly surprised and have to say I have been converted to a Taylor Jenkins-Reid fan. This was a perfect summer read.

The setting of this novel fits perfectly with the story, a sunny beach in Malibu and a luxurious mansion on the strip. I think I loved it more because it fits perfectly as a summer read and during the heatwave allowed me to feel a touch of what it must be like living in the dry heat of Malibu. I really felt the wealth of the characters come through from the descriptions of the setting.

I fell in love with the characters as they developed through this story. My favourite character, Nina, really developed and grew throughout and it was interesting to see the parallels that were drawn between her and her mother June in the other timeline. I really routed for Nina the whole way through this novel. Mik was extremely infuriating which just shows how good Taylor Jenkins-Reid’s writing is to allow you to feel so invested in and involved with the characters. On the whole, most of the main characters had so many layers to unravel which progressed through the book. The only criticism I would have is that towards the end it felt like there were too many side characters being introduced at the party that it started to get a little confusing as to who was doing what, this meant some of the impact was lost at the end.

The plot was very interesting. When I first found out that the book is supposed to span one whole day I thought I would be bored. However, it is written so well that I actually really enjoyed it. I liked how each chapter was at a different time throughout the day and how it was separated into two parts, the morning and the party/evening. The build-up to the party made me apprehensive that I would be disappointed by the actual party, however, this did not disappoint. The party was intense and interesting and in general, I liked how Taylor Jenkins-Reid rounded off the book, tying up all of the loose ends. The relationships and the found family aspects really added to the story and provided depth, this wasn’t just a celebrity party story, it was so much more than that. It was rejection, it was love, loss, fame, fortune, rejection, and just life. This is why I enjoyed this story so much.

Taylor Jenkins-Reid’s writing style is so easy to drink in and this is what got me through the chapters where I felt a bit a lot because of all the new characters that were introduced. I liked the multiple aspects and points of view in this story and how it was written in the third and first person.

Overall, I rate this story four stars. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the only reason I am knocking off a star is because of the extra characters that annoyed me and there were slightly too many which made me lose focus a little bit. At first, I thought this story was predictable but it actually took a few turns that surprised me and that is what I like in a book. If you are looking for a light summer read but are unsure about tackling a Taylor Jenkins-Reid novel, I would definitely recommend picking this book up.

My Body – Emily Ratajkowski

My Body is a feminist read written by Emily Ratajkowski, discussing her life and the journey she has taken through the modelling industry and into worldwide fame. Ultimately a collection of essays on various life events, this novel discusses what it means to be a young model in a male-dominated industry and how even when you think you are in control, you are ultimately being controlled by somebody else.

I enjoyed this book because I found it interesting to see how Emily Ratajkowski has faced so many challenges in her life. Before reading this, I knew very little about her but now I feel that I understand her as a model, better than I did before. From the famous ‘blurred lines’ music video to her appearance in ‘Gone Girl,’ this unfiltered collection discusses why Emily Ratajkowski has taken on these roles in her own words. In particular, I enjoyed the chapter ‘Buying myself back’ because it has so many important messages and multiple layers to analyse. It not only discusses how Ratajkoswki had to buy her image physically but also how she took control of her image and ‘bought’ her freedom. I was shocked to see how much sexual assault was discussed in this book, I had no idea that these were some of Ratajkowski’s own experiences. Reading these opened my eyes to how sexist and cruel the modelling industry can be. I learned a lot from reading this.

I didn’t like how each chapter felt like we were jumping back and forth between different periods of Ratajkowski’s life but this is just because I prefer to read a linear biography. However, this is a collection of essays so no doubt, this is not meant to be a linear biography, if anything the order of these chapters is designed to follow the different topics and problems as and when they crop up in the discussion.