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SquadPod 2024 Favourites

It’s become a tradition to share a post featuring the SquadPod’s favourite books of the year and find out what our favourite reads are collectively. In 2024 we’ve been fortunate to read some amazing books both individually and as a team, so I’ve loved looking at these lists.

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Read to the end to find out our book of the year…

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Emma at Emma’s Biblio Treasures
  • Frank and Red – Matt Coyne
  • The List of Suspicious Things – Jennie Godfrey
  • The Silence in Between – Josie Ferguson
  • The Betrayal of Thomas True – A. J. West
  • The Nightingale – Kristin Hannah
  • One of the Good Guys – Araminta Hall
  • Clytemnestra – Costanza Casati
  • The Women – Kristin Hannah
  • Small Hours – Bobby Palmer
  • Prima Facie – Suzie Miller
  • The Household – Stacey Halls
  • The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers – Samuel Burr
  • The Theatre of Glass and Shadow – Anne Corlett
  • The Maiden – Kate Foster
  • Spoilt Creatures – Amy Twigg
  • Redemption – Jack Jordan
  • The House of Fever – Polly Crosby
  • The House in the Cerulean Sea – TJ Klune
  • The Examiner – Janice Hallett
  • Circus of Mirrors – Julie Owen Moylan
  • The Burial Plot – Elizabeth Macneal
  • The Book of Witching – C. J. Cooke
  • The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne – Freya North
  • Black Woods, Blue Sky -Eowyn Ivey
  • The Marriage Portrait – Maggie O’Farrell

Book of the Year: Frank and Red – Matt Coyne

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Sue at Brown Flopsy’s Book Burrow
  • All I Want For Christmas – Karen Swan
  • Because She Looked Away – Alison Bruce
  • Circus of Mirrors – Julie Owen Moylan
  • Dark as Night – Lilja Sigurdardottir
  • First Lie Wins – Ashley Elston
  • Frank and Red – Matt Coyne
  • Geneva – Richard Armitage
  • How To Solve Murders Like a Lady – Hannah Dolby
  • In Bloom – Eva Verde
  • In the Blink of an Eye – Jo Callaghan
  • Leaving – Roxana Robinson
  • Living is a Problem – Doug Johnstone
  • Love Game – Emma Rae
  • Nightbloom – Peace Adzo Medie
  • Nothing Without Me – Helen Monks Takhar
  • Original Sins – Erin Young
  • Palisade – Lou Gilmond
  • Prima Facie – Suzie Miller
  • Second Chances at the Board Game Cafe – Jennifer Page
  • The Bedlam Cleaver – Robert J. Lloyd
  • The Betrayal of Thomas True – A. J. West
  • The Comeback – Ella Berman
  • The Enigma Girl – Henry Porter
  • The Final Act of Juliette Whilouby – Ellery Lloyd
  • The Last Summer – Karen Swan
  • The Maiden – Kate Foster
  • The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne – Freya North
  • The Wreckage of Us – Dan Malakin
  • Theatre of Glass and Shadows – Anne Corlett
  • Victim – Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger

Book of the Year: Frank and Red – Matt Coyne

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Vik at Vik’s Book Haven
  • Frank and Red – Matt Coyne
  • Clickbait – LC North
  • MILF – Paloma Faith
  • Breaking the Dark – Lisa Jewell
  • Mercy Chair – M. W. Craven
  • Death Watcher – Chris Carter
  • The Ice Retreat – Ruth Kelly
  • Don’t You Want Me Baby – Rachel Dove
  • After the Storm – G. D. Wright
  • The Clique – Rhiannon Barnsley
  • The Guests – Nikki Smith
  • My Daughter’s Revenge – Natali Simmonds
  • Date With Destiny – Lucy Vine
  • Someone in the Attic – Andrea Mara
  • A Good Place to Hide a Body – Laura Marshall
  • Message Deleted – K. L. Slater
  • The Night She Dies – Sarah Clarke
  • The Intruders – Louise Jensen
  • Darling Girls – Sally Hepworth
  • The Trade Off – Sandie Jones
  • The Familly Manda – Sue Heller
  • What Stays Unsaid – Sophie Flynn
  • How To Kill A Guy in Ten Ways – Eve Kellerman
  • Lights Out – Louise Swanson
  • The Phantom Child – A. J. Willis

Books of the Year: Frank and Red – Matt Coyne & Clickbait – L. C. North

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Jen at Travels Along My Bookshelf
  • The List Of Suspicious Things – Jennie Godfrey
  • The Glassmaker – Tracy Chevalier
  • Circus Of Mirrors – Julie Owen Moylan
  • In All Weathers – Matt Gaw
  • A Silent Tsunami – Anthea Rowan
  • Clear – Carys Davies
  • The Unfinished Business Of Eadie Browne – Freya North
  • Frank and Red – Matt Coyne
  • The Final Act Of Juliet Willoughby – Ellery Lloyd
  • The Betrayal Of Thomas True – AJ West
  • The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst – Katie Lumsden
  • Miss Austen Investigates – Jessica Bull
  • A Lively Midwinter Murder – Katy Watson
  • Someone At A Distance – Dorothy Whipple
  • Five Little Pigs – Agatha Christie
  • Diary Of A Provincial Lady – EM Delafield
  • Jane and Prudence – Barbara Pym
  • Mistletoe Magic In The Highlands – Bella Osborne
  • Wolf Hall – Hilary Mantel
  • The Kings Mother – Annie Garthwaite

Book of the Year: The List of Suspicious Things – Jennie Godfrey

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Kate at Rutherford Reads
  • The Search Party – Hannah Richell
  • Knock Knock – Michelle Tehan
  • Ice Town – Will Dean
  • Leaving – Roxana Robinson
  • Home Again For Christmas – Emily Stone
  • The Guests – Nikki Smith
  • The Negotiator – Brooke Robinson
  • A Good Place to Hide a Body – Laura Marshall
  • Talking at Night – Claire Daverley
  • Frank and Red – Matt Coyne
  • The Summer Party – Kate Gray
  • The Wrong Hands – Mark Billingham
  • The Chamber – Will Dean
  • The Comeback – Ella Berman
  • Darling Girls – Sally Hepworth
  • Seven Days – Robert Rutherford
  • Five Bad Deeds – Caz Frear
  • Finding Sophie – Imran Mahmood
  • The School Run – Ali Lowe
  • In the Blink of an Eye – Jo Callaghan
  • The Memory of Us – Dani Atkins
  • The Christmas Appeal – Janice Hallett
  • The Perfect Guests – Ruth Irons
  • Redemption – Jack Jordan

Book of the Year: Frank and Red – Matt Coyne

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Elizabeth at Lib C Reads
  • Frank & Red – Matt Coyne
  • The List of Suspicious Things – Jennie Godfrey
  • All The Colours of the Dark – Chris Whitaker
  • Leaving – Roxana Robinson
  • The Silence In Between – Josie Ferguson
  • The Wedding People – Alison Espach
  • The Glassmaker – Tracy Chevalier
  • Circus of Mirrors – Julie Owen Moylan
  • The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne – Freya North
  • This Motherless Land – Nikki May
  • The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby – Ellery Lloyd
  • True Love – Paddy Crewe
  • The Women – Kristin Hannah
  • Talking at Night – Claire Daverley
  • How to Age Disgracefully – Claire Pooley
  • Sandwich – Catherine Newman
  • Leave No Trace – Jo Callaghan
  • The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers – Samuel Burr
  • Prima Facie – Suzie Miller
  • The God of the Woods – Liz Moore
  • First Lie Wins – Ashley Elston
  • You Are Here – David Nicholls
  • Adelaide – Genevieve Wheeler
  • The Spy Coast – Tess Gerritsen

Book of the Year: Frank and Red – Matt Coyne

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Hayley at Lotus Readers
  • The Divorce – Moa Herngren
  • The Instrumentalist – Harriet Constable 
  • The Midnight Hour – Eve Chase 
  • One of the Good Guys – Araminta Hall 
  • The Women – Kristin Hannah
  • Profile K – Helen Fields 
  • Toxic – Helga Flatland 
  • The Silence In Between – Josie Ferguson
  • The Circus of Mirrors – Julie Owen Moylan 
  • This Motherless Land – Nikki May 
  • Living Is A Problem – Doug Johnstone 
  • The Black Loch – Peter May
  • Ice Town – Will Dean
  • The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst – Kate Lumsden
  • Dark As Night – Lilja Sigurdottir 
  • The Glassmaker – Tracey Chevalier 
  • By Any Other Name – Jodi Picoult 
  • Night Watching – Tracy Sierra
  • The Salt Flats – Rachel Atalla
  • Home Truths – Charity Norman

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Ellie at Elspells
  • The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley 
  • In Memoriam by Alice Winn
  • The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Micheal
  • Tiananmen Square by Lai Wen
  • Ghost Mountain by Ronan Hession
  • Birding by Rose Ruane
  • The Moon Represents My Heart by Pim Wangtechawat
  • The Last Princess by Ellen Alpsten 
  • Nesting by Roisin O’ Donnell
  • Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey 
  • May All Your Skies Be Blue by Fíona Scarlett 
  • Green Dot by Madeleine Gray

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Karen at Book Blogging Bureau
  • The List of Suspicious Things – Jennie Godfrey 
  • Prima Facie – Suzie Miller 
  • The Midnight Feast -Lucy Foley 
  • Frank and Red – Matt Coyne 
  • The Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers – Samuel Burr 
  • A Lesson in Cruelty – Harriet Tyce 
  • The Curse of Penryn Hall – Jess Armstrong
  • The Knowing -Emma Hinds 
  • The Guests -Agnes Ravatn 
  • The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year –   Ally Carter 

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Becca at Becca Kate Blogs
  • Murder on Lake Garda – Tom Hindle
  • The Mystery Guest – Nita Prose
  • Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead – Jenny Hollander 
  • The Story Collector – Iris Costello
  • The Last Party – Clare Mackintosh
  • Funny Story – Emily Henry
  • The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers – Samuel Burr
  • Redemption – Jack Jordan
  • The Midnight Feast – Lucy Foley
  • For Such a Time as This – Shani Akilah
  • Probably Nothing – Lauren Bravo
  • One of the Good Guys – Araminta Hall
  • Circus of Mirrors – Julie Owen Moylan
  • Here One Moment – Liane Moriarty

Book of the Year: Funny Story – Emily Henry

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Ceri at Ceri’s Lil’ Blog
  • Love Betty – Laura Kemp
  • The Lamplighters – Emma Stonex
  • Ten Years – Pernille Hughes
  • Contacts – Mark Watson
  • Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens
  • The Mystery Guest – Nita Prose
  • The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane Williams 
  • The Love Hypothesis Ali Hazelwood
  • The Phone Box at the Edge of the World – Laura Imai Messina
  • A Train to Moscow – Elena Gorokhova
  • Yours Truly – Abby Jiminez
  • The Honeymoon – Kate Gray
  • The Party Season – S J I Holliday
  • The Hiding Place – Simon Lelic
  • Home Stretch – Graham Norton 
  • The Housewarming – S E Lynes 
  • Her Lonely Bones – Wendy Dranfield
  • Don’t You Want Me Baby? -Rachel Dove
  • The Sentence – Christina Dalcher
  • A Recipe for Christmas – Jo Thomas

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Zoe at Crazed Redhead Blog
  • Cover the Bones by Chris Hammer
  • Miss Austen Investigates – Jessica Bull
  • Here in the Dark –  Alexis Solokis 
  • Helle & Death – Oskar Jensen
  • The Pumpkin Spice Cafe – Laurie Gilmore
  • The Fury – Alex Michaelides
  • The Knowing – Emma Hinds
  • The Poisons We Drink – Bethany Baptiste
  • Days at the Morisaki Bookshop – Satoshi Yagisawa
  • Marigold Mind Laudnry – Jungeun Yun
  • None of This Is True – Lisa Jewell
  • Bright Young Women – Jessica Knoll
  • Critical Incidents – Luci Whitehouse
  • ASAP – Axie Oh
  • Every Smile You Fake – Dorothy Koomson
  • The Summer of Broken Rules – K. L. Walther
  • Beating Heart – Laura Pavlov
  • Things We Never Got Over – Lucy Score
  • Night Road – Kristin Hannah
  • Funny Feelings – Tarah DeWitt
  • The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore – Laruie Gilmore
  • The Christmas Tree Farm – Laurie Gilmore
  • Silent Evidence – Clea Koff
  • So Let Them Burn –  Kamilah Cole

Book of the Year: Marigold Mind Laudnry – Jungeun Yun

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So what were our favourites?

In alphabetical order, our top five books this year were:

  • Circus of Mirrors by Julie Owen Moylan
  • Frank and Red by Matt Coyne
  • The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr
  • The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey
  • The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne by Freya North

And our overall favourite was…

Frank and Red! Which was our Feburary Book Club pick.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles. And thank you for all your support in 2024 xxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Featured Books Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan

Published September 5th, 2024 by Constable
Mystery, Crime Series, Thriller, Political Fiction

Welcome to my bookish thoughts on this cosy mystery. Thank you to Constable for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

How to put a positive spin on a murder mystery…

Meet our narrator: witty, nosy, a professional weaver of lies – aka ghostwriter for the rich
and famous – and now, lander of The Dream Assignment (that is, a politician’s tell-all
memoir).

Enter Dorothy Gibson: recently toppled Presidential C andidate, aka that woman, the most
talked-about person in the country right now… for all the wrong reasons.

Add — an invitation to the middle of nowhere, one well-heeled neighbour dying under
Suspicious C ircumstances, a secret investigation — and an unreasonably beautiful man.

The result — a story even our ghostwriter wasn’t expecting. And for once, it’s all hers…

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MY REVIEW:

An anonymous ghostwriter travels to Maine to ghostwrite the autobiography of Dorothy Gibson, the former senator that everyone is talking about following her recent loss in the Presidential race against a Donald Trump-esque opponent. Not long into the assignment, one of Dorothy’s neighbours is found dead in the bath. And while it is at first assumed to be suicide, evidence later points to murder prompting Dorothy and the ghostwriter to team up to try and solve the crime. 

Funny, bold, twisty and compelling, The Busy Body is an entertaining cosy mystery with retro vibes. Set in a large country house in winter, the book has a warm and festive atmosphere that I enjoyed. The anonymous ghostwriter narrates the story, recounting the events surrounding the murder and investigation and often breaking the fourth wall to talk directly to the reader. But the book’s greatest strength in my opinion is its characters.  There’s the sarcastic and gossipy ghostwriter, the smart and sassy former senator, a grumpy policeman, a hard-to-resist gorgeous bodyguard and an array of compelling background characters. There’s an abundance of motives and suspects, making it hard to predict where the story will go next and just who killed Dorothy’s neighbour. I was hooked and kept guessing right up until the big reveal. It feels like Kemper Donovan has set this book up to be the start of a new series and I hope it is as I can see a lot of potential for the ghostwriter to become embroiled in a lot of intriguing situations thanks to her job. 

A fun old-timey mystery perfect for anyone who likes detective stories, I highly recommend this book. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Kemper’s website:
I’ve lived in Los Angeles for most of my adult life. Starting out, I worked at a wonderful company called Circle of Confusion (no, really) representing film/television screenwriters and comic books. My very first client wrote the screenplay for the feature film Hanna, released by Focus Features in 2011. (If you haven’t seen it, watch it; you won’t be sorry.) Before that I went to college at Stanford University (with apologies to the Bay Area, I am definitely more of a SoCal person), and law school at Harvard. Technically, I am a retired lawyer, which means I passed the New York Bar and then immediately switched my status to “retired” to avoid fees and continuing education requirements….

I began writing my first novel, The Decent Proposal, when I was still a manager. After an extremely long gestational period and an even longer process acquiring representation and then selling the book for publication, I turned to writing full-time. Around the same time, I also began a side project with my dear friend, Catherine Brobeck. Together we created the podcast All About Agatha, devoted to the one and only Agatha Christie. Tragically, Catherine passed away at the end of 2021, and I have continued on with the podcast solo. It was my work on All About Agatha that inspired me to write my own mystery series, which is currently being published by Kensington Books. 

I am married, and my husband and I have two daughters who keep us extremely busy. When I’m not with them, or chattering into a microphone, or staring at a laptop with my head in my hands, I enjoy doing things that have a more obvious/tangible/short-term payoff such as running and attempting to play the violin (emphasis on the attempt).

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Watesrtones* | Amazon*
*These are affiiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Audio Books book reviews Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: To Die For (Travis Devine, 3) by David Baldacci

Published November 7th, 2024 by Pan Macmillan
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Crime Ficiton, Police Procedural, Political Thriller, Adventure Fiction

Welcome to my review for this tense thriller. Thank you Pan Macmillan for my copy.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The bodyguard becomes the hunted in To Die For, the electrifying third Travis Devine thriller from international no. 1 bestselling author David Baldacci, following The Edge and the runaway no. 1 bestseller The 6:20 Man.

* * * * *

Some secrets are too dangerous to keep . . .

TWO SUSPICIOUS DEATHS

When Dwayne and Alice Odom are killed, the police report states clearly that it was a drug overdose. So why is their daughter, who was there when they died, claiming that’s not the truth?

ONE YOUNG SURVIVOR

Betsy Odom doesn’t trust the police but when she finds herself in the FBI’s custody after her parents’ deaths, she knows she has to be careful. Her uncle wants to adopt her and as he is a very rich and powerful man, she wants to let him. His criminal connections, however, mean the authorities aren’t so sure.

ONE MAN ON THE RUN

Enter Travis Devine. Trying to escape a skilled predator who wants him dead, Devine finds himself as Betsy’s bodyguard. But when an informant is found murdered, Devine knows this job is perhaps even more dangerous than the one he’s running from . . . and the true enemy may be on his side.

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MY REVIEW:

Former Marine Travis Devine – now a bodyguard, fixer and investigator – becomes the prey in the third installment in this series. A threatening note in his pocket from the mysterious girl on the train is only the latest in the line of attempts to kill him. And finding out who she is isn’t the only thing on Devine’s mind. The Department of Justice has sent him to the West Coast to protect a young girl whose uncle is the defendant in a federal case. Young Betsy Odom’s parents died of a drug overdose in front of her. But she claims they were murdered. Can Travis keep Betsy safe, discover the truth and stop the woman determined to kill him.

Suspenseful, gripping and intriguing, this my first time reading a David Baldacci book and this series so it took me a bit of time to get to grips with the characters and story, but once I did I was hooked. I particularly enjoyed the parts from the perspective of the woman on the train and was on the edge of my seat until the very last page. A great addition to the TBR of anyone who loves a great thriller.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

David Baldacci has been writing since childhood, when his mother gave him a lined notebook in which to write down his stories. (Much later, when David thanked her for being the spark that ignited his writing career, she revealed that she’d given him the notebook to keep him quiet, “because every mom needs a break now and then.”)

David published his first novel, ABSOLUTE POWER, in 1996. The feature film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 50 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers and several have been adapted for film and television. His novels have been translated into over 45 languages and sold in more than 80 countries, with 150 million copies sold worldwide. David has also published seven novels for younger readers.

David is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy programs across the United States.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*these are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Next Mrs Parrish by Liv Constantine

Published June 18th, 2024 by Quercus
Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction

Welcome to my review for this bingeable thriller. Thanks to Quercus for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Amber Patterson Parrish has come a long way. Hard work and immaculate planning turned her from invisible wallflower to prominent socialite, but there have been bumps along the way. Less than a year after her husband Jackson’s tax-evasion scandal, Amber reigns supreme over the Bishops Harbor community. But with Jackson being released from prison, Amber’s free time – and money – is vanishing.

Meanwhile, Daphne Parrish left Bishops Harbor after her divorce from Jackson, swearing she would never go back. But when one of her daughters runs away from home, desperate to see her father, Daphne agrees to return for the summer. Jackson swears he’s a changed man, but Daphne knows all too well that he can’t be trusted.

When a ghost from Amber’s past emerges looking for revenge, these three find unlikely allies in one another. But who is playing who? When all is said and done, they’ll have to fight tooth and nail for everything they have left in this zero-sum game.

With shocking turns and entertaining characters, The Next Mrs. Parrish will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about duplicity and betrayal.

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MY REVIEW:

Picking up a few years after the events of book one, The Next Mrs Parrish takes us back to Bishops Harbor. Amber Patterson-Parrish is enjoying a life of luxury. But with her husband, Jackson, in prison, money is running out. And his impending release means she’ll have to spend time with the man she manipulated. 

Meanwhile, Jackson’s first wife, Daphne, now lives in California with their daughters. After years of abuse she’s finally free and has sworn never to return to Bishop’s Harbor but when her eldest daughter threatens to run away, she agrees to return for the summer. Jackson is claiming to be a changed man. But Daphne knows better than to trust anything he says. 

As Daphne attempts to navigate co-parenting and Amber makes plans for a different life, a ghost from Amber’s past comes back to haunt her and is intent on revenge. What follows is a gripping game of cat and mouse where everyone has a plan, no-one knows who to trust, and things won’t end well for at least one of them…

I was consumed by this tense, twisty and riveting tale of revenge and devoured it in one sitting. Expertly written, cleverly plotted and intricately woven, Liv Constantine have crafted a story that is even better than the first book.  I loved how everyone is plotting against each other, has no idea who they can trust, and is double-crossing one another. As a reader it was also hard to predict and kept me on the edge of my seat. 

What makes this book so good for me is the characters. Amber and Jackson are such despicable people that it makes you rage and root for their undoing. They made my blood boil and I was furious that they seemed to win again and again. I  had to keep reading in the hope that one of the good guys would come good in the end. Daphne and Daisy-Ann were flawed but good characters and I was totally in their corners at every step. I felt a particular connection to Daphne as I also escaped an abusive marriage many years ago and was cheering her on as she healed and built a new life. She felt very real and the authors did a brilliant job of writing her character.  However, I didn’t like everything she did.  I won’t give details because I don’t do spoilers, but I will say that some of her actions made me want to shake her and scream ‘don’t do it’, however much I understood them. The authors wrote her character really well and she felt so familiar and real. 

Heart-poundingly tense, fast-paced and bingeable, I highly recommend this superb thriller. 

Rating:  ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Lynne and Valerie are New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today international bestselling authors with over one and a half million copies sold worldwide. They are Library Reads Hall of Fame authors.  Their books have been translated into 29 languages, are available in 34 countries, and are in development for both television and film.  Their books have been praised by The Washington Post, USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Their debut novel, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH, is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee

Published November 1st, 2024 by Wildfire
Fantasy Fiction, Magical Realism, Humorous Fantasy, Translated Fiction

Welcome to my review for this magical and mesmerising story. Thank you to Ollie at Wildfire for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

|| THE NO.1 KOREAN BESTSELLER WITH OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD ||

It has been a year since Penny first walked through the doors of DallerGut Dream Department Store, and surviving a year at the store means one thing . . . She is now an official employee of the dream industry! She can finally take the express commuter train to the Company District, where all the dream production companies are located and discover how all raw dream materials and testing equipment are produced.

But the Company District is not quite what she expected, it hides the darker underbelly of the magical industry that Penny thought she was a part of.

Penny discovers the Civil Complaint Center, full of people filing complaints about their dreams. She also learns about the regular customers who have stopped coming to the store. As she gets to the bottom of each complaint, she begins to expand her horizons, transforming from just selling dreams to understanding what lies in the hearts of their lost regulars.

Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store delves deeper into the dream industry and its customers. Why do some of them buy a dream and never return? Will Penny and her colleagues be able to bring their regulars back?

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MY REVIEW:

Magical, dreamy, uplifting and original, Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store is a mesmerising sequel that is every bit as breathtaking and imaginative as the first book. Once again Miye Lee once again takes us on a moving and fantastical journey into our dreams. The wonderful cast of characters return but find their roles expanded as we delve even deeper into the world of dream-making. A new side to the dreams is explored in the Civil Complaints Centre and Ms. Lee again examines serious topics such as disability through the dreamworld. As a disabled person myself I found this part of the book very emotional and inspiring. I loved how she was so inclusive and advocated for us in such a creative way while also reminding us that whatever our abilities there is so much left to enjoy in life and we should do exactly that.

As with book one, the best thing to do with this book is discover it for yourself. So I’m not going to say anything more about the plot. However I was saddened to learn this is a duology and therefore our final visit to the DallerGut Dream Department Store. This world is so comforting and a real balm for my soul that I could have read countless books set there. I’m sincerely hoping that Ms. Lee reconsiders and adds to the series.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Miye Lee was born in Busan in 1990. After graduating from the Busan National University School of Materials Science and Engineering, she worked as a semiconductor engineer at Samsung Electronics. Her debut novel Dallergut Dream Department Store published entirely funded through a crowdfunding service in Korea in 2020 and has since drawn many enthusiastic responses and favourable reviews.

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ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR:

Sandy Joosun Lee is a Korean-to-English translator based in Seoul. She studied Literature/Writing in University of California, San Diego. Her translations include Won-pyung Sohn’s Almond (HarperVia, 2020) and Miye Lee’s DallerGut Dream Department Store duology (Wildfire, 2023). She also works in animation, translating and developing animated content, which includes The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021) and Star Wars: Visions (2023). She is a member of the translator collective Smoking Tigers.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*these are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Featured Books Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Weekend Guests by Liza North

Published August 29th, 2024 by Constable
Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, Psychological Thriller

Welcome to my review for this unsettling and addictive thriller. Thank you to Cosntable for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

FIVE OLD FRIENDS.
A REUNION TO DIE FOR . . .

A weekend on the wild, beautiful Dorset coast. Seven adults, six kids. A nanny: the ultimate special treat.

It should be perfect: old friends, a stunning house, champagne and windswept beaches. But it isn’t.

Past grudges won’t rest. Secrets won’t stay put.

And by the end of the weekend, at least one of them will be dead.

Perfect for fans of THE HUNTING PARTY by Lucy Foley and ONE OF THE GIRLS by Lucy Clarke, this is a gripping locked-room thriller brimming with secrets and lies.

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MY REVIEW:

Five university friends reunite at the luxurious second home of two of their group on the Dorset coast. They bring their children and partners to the reunion which promises to be a fun-filled weekend of champagne, wind-swept beaches, and reminiscing about the old days. But trouble is ahead because they have been keeping a dark secret. Old resentments resurface, tensions rise, and by the end of the weekend, at least one of them will be dead…

What a book! Dark, eerie, nail-biting and addictive, The Weekend Guests is a first-class thriller with a cinematic edge. Liza North has an instant fan in this blogger and I will be reading anything else she writes. Opening with a chilling prologue that sets the tone for what’s to come, the book oozes a sinister and foreboding tension from beginning to end. The dark secret we know the friends have hidden for years only adds to that, a constant, malevolent presence that lingers over every page just waiting to be exposed. And I was in Ms. North’s thrall as she twisted the beauty of the Dorset coast into a suitably terrifying backdrop for this propulsive claustrophobic thriller. Skillfully written, cleverly plotted and fast-paced, this was a sensational introduction to Liza North’s writing. I devoured it greedily, forcing myself to put it down in the early hours when what I really wanted to do was keep reading to the end. 

The story is told in dual timelines by multiple narrators and moves seamlessly between them. Each of the characters are richly drawn, flawed and unlikeable. But there is one who stands out amongst them all: Darryl. Their neighbour and acquaintance from their time at university in Edinburgh. The flashbacks, which all take place during their time at university in 2001, are told through Darryl’s diary. And, boy, did this guy give me the creeps! Strange and unsettling, he made my flesh crawl and my unease turned to horror as the full truth about him was revealed. Darryl also added to the questions about the secret as now I not only wanted to know what the secret was, but how he was connected to it all. 

So, if you’re looking for a thriller that will have your heart pounding and keep you glued to the pages, then this book is for you.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Liza North is a writer, academic and former journalist. Her first Scottish-based psychological thriller, Obsessed, was published in 2023. Educated at Oxford University and University College London, she has written for the Financial Times and the Guardian, and spoken at literary and crime writing festivals including Bloody Scotland. A reluctant runner, insatiable reader and lover of fancy gin, she lives in Edinburgh with her husband and two daughters. 

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Unfinished Life of Eadie Browne by Freya North

Published September 12th, 2024 by Mountain Leopard Press
Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story

Welcome to my review for this magnificent and unforgettable story, which was one of our recent SquadPod Featured Books. Thanks to Mountain Leopard Press for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘You really must read this book. A rare and phenomenal life affirming read’ DINAH JEFFERIES

‘Get ready to fall in love with Eadie Browne, the eponymous and eccentric heroine of this tender-hearted, steeped-in-nostalgia story about chosen family’ RED

When your present meets your past, what do you take with you – and what do you leave behind?

Eadie Browne is a quirky kid living in a small town where nothing much happens. Bullied at school, she muddles her way through the teenage years with best friends Celeste and Josh until University takes them their separate ways.

Arriving in Manchester as a student in the late 1980s, Eadie experiences a novel freedom and it’s intoxicating. As the city embraces the dizzying euphoria of Rave counterculture, Eadie is swept along, ignoring danger and reality. Until, one night, her past comes hurtling at her with consequences she could never have imagined.

Now, as the new millennium approaches, Eadie is thirty with a marriage in tatters, travelling back to the town of her birth for a funeral she can’t quite comprehend. As she journeys from the North to the South, from the present to the past, Eadie contemplates all that was then and all that is now – and the loose ends that must be tied before her future can unfold.

‘A delightful dose of nostalgia’ HEAT

‘A beautifully written tale about growing up, letting go and moving on’ SUN

‘A gorgeous, heartfelt, atmospheric novel by a wonderful storyteller’ LUCY ATKINS

‘A beautifully moving portrait of youth, friendship and love . . . I loved it’ MIKE GAYLE

‘Beautifully written, funny and wise . . . heart-breaking and heart-warming’ ALEXANDRA POTTER

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MY REVIEW:

Heartfelt, enthralling and unforgettable, The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne is a gorgeous slice-of-life story that packs a strong emotional punch. Brimming with kindness, joy, friendship and self-discovery, it explores the defining moments in one young girl’s life and how they echo in her adult years, as well as the many ways we leave indelible imprints on each other’s lives. 

Some books arrive in your life at exactly the right time and change you forever. That is what this book did for me. Freya North had me in the palm of her hand from start to finish, immediately enthralling me with her beautiful, descriptive prose of this exquisitely written and insightful story. It resonated with me on a visceral level and in a way few books have done before. I make notes in my phone as I read to help me write my reviews and I found myself so lost in this story that I barely made any. I couldn’t put it down and devoured it in two sittings, staying up until the early hours until I’d finished and left me with one hell of a book hangover. 

I fell totally in love with the eponymous Eadie Browne, a quirky and eccentric child who seemed quite sad when we first met her. Eadie lives in a small town and spends her time with her only friends, who just happen to be the residents of the cemetery neighbouring her home. She’s teased mercilessly for this and other things at school and it was impossible not to feel for her. But Eadie also radiates an undeniable charm that makes you like her from the start. I felt like I really connected with young Eadie and I loved that the author has filled this book with not only a heroine who is recognisable, relatable and real, but a whole varied cast of characters who are too. I loved Eadie’s friendships with her best friends, Josh and Celeste. I loved watching them grow together, help each other, and how they were inseparable during their tumultuous teenage years. Other friendships I really enjoyed were Eadie’s friendships with the people who worked in the cemetery. These men were a real source of wisdom and comfort to her when she really needed them and I’m a sucker for a multi-generational friendship. 

The story takes a shift in tone when Eadie moves to Manchester for university. This part felt very emotional to me as my eldest and his girlfriend made the same move to the same city 14 months ago. When Eadie moves to Manchester it is overwhelming and she is back to being all alone and needing to make new connections, but she does settle and make new friends. And with those friends comes her introduction to the Rave scene that was sweeping the city in the late 1980s and they spend their nights dancing in an Ecstasy-induced haze. It is a time of euphoria, brightness and discovery. While it feels innocent to them, we know the danger they are in. A danger that Eadie becomes aware of when her past and present collide in a terrifying way one night, leading to a new exploration of trauma and PTSD, subjects that the author handles with both honesty and sensitivity. She brings that same talent to her writing in the ‘present’ part of the story, which takes place in 1999. Eadie is now thirty and married. But her marriage is strained and as she and her husband  make a pilgrimage back to her home town for a funeral. As she travels home, Eadie reflects on the past, how the events in her life have impacted her over the years and in the present, and asks herself if her marriage can be saved. 

Consuming, funny, heartwarming, moving and uplifting, this magnificent story is one that I will never forget. One of my favourite books this year, I can’t recommend it highly enough. 

 Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am the author of 16 bestselling novels including my debut Sally (1996), Pillow Talk (2008 – winner of the RNA award) The Turning Point (2016), Richard & Judy Bookclub selection Little Wing (2022) and my newest, The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne (2024) – my love letter to youth, to friendship, to growing up in the 1980s… and to Manchester!

A sense of place is central to my writing and previous novels have featured Derbyshire, Teesside, North Norfolk, the Scottish Highlands and Islands, Vermont, France and British Columbia. A passionate reader, I founded and ran the Hertford Children’s Book Festival, have judged the Costa Book Awards and am a patron of the Society of Women Writers & Journalists. I’m proud to be an Ambassador for Bowel Cancer UK and patron of Pointers In Need. I have degrees in Art History from the University of Manchester and the Courtauld Institute, London and love teaching at writing workshops. Currently, I’m trying to work out which novel to write next… as there are quite a few vying for my attention!

I love books. Books have defined and shaped all the key stages of my life. A A Milne taught me about rhyme – and reason; Barbara Sleigh fired my imagination and my playtimes with the Carbonel stories. Black Beauty was the first book that made me cry, while Ruby Ferguson’s Jill books transported the pony-mad girl in me away from the city.

In my teenage years, I found solace in Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and Judy Blume’s novels, while To Kill A Mockingbird and Flowers for Algernon opened my eyes to justice, humanity and judging people. At University, I turned to Jilly Cooper for respite during exams and books by Jane Gardam and Barbara Trapido introduced me to characters whose shoes I wanted to step in to. I now host a series on Instagram called Wednesday Writers – a half-hour slot at lunchtime where I chat candidly with another author about how we write, why we write, where we write…and how we cope when we fear we can’t bloody write!

I grew up surrounded by books and loved weekly visits to the library to choose something new – or an outing to the bookshop to spend a book voucher! Whether my childhood home or student digs in Manchester or various flat-shares and then my own home, books have always filled my space. I don’t own an ebook reader – I’m happy to continue to decorate my home with my book collection. Every book I own is a treasured possession of mine, an essential part of my history. Every book I own, quite literally, tells a story.

Since 2009 I have lived on a small farm in East Hertfordshire with my family – my offspring Felix and Georgia, my dogs Milo and Bee, my horses Nathan and Jack and my sheeps Brontë, Emily, Eliza and Lovely. In my spare time, I enjoy ceramics classes (I’ve been going for years and basically make the same bowl over and over again, plus little porcelain sheep) or invariably I can be found in one saddle or other. I’ve ridden horses since I was little but I took up road biking after my back surgery in 2017 – and have become somewhat obsessed…

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: One Bad Apple by Jo Jakeman

Published September 19th, 2024 by Constable
Crime Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Humorous Fiction

Welcome to my review of this witty and riveting thriller. Thanks to Constable for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

One murder. A school full of suspects…

‘I loved it! Throw a murder into the politics of the school gates and the parents WhatsApp groups and you have a witty, insightful and thoroughly entertaining murder mystery.’ Jo Callaghan, author of In the Blink of an Eye

‘Packed with explosive twists, this captivating murder mystery will keep you reading late into the night’ Womans Own

Welcome to Aberfal Boys High School. Independent jewel of academic and sporting excellence in the South-west — until the headmaster is murdered in his study. And now the Year Seven School Mums’ WhatsApp Group really do have something to talk about…

Clare Withoutani: OMG have you heard about Newhall?!!!
Becky Rupertsmum: Helen-Louise just texted. Can’t believe it.
Asha: Not heard anything. What’s happened?
Pam Geoffreysmum: What’s he done this time? They’re going co-ed, aren’t they? I knew this would happen.
Clare Withoutani: Can’t believe it, Becky. I’m in shock.
Pam Geoffreysmum: Are we going co-ed?
Becky Rupertsmum: No, Pam. Newhall died.
Pam Geoffreysmum: Oh GOD. Seriously??!! Can’t believe it. So sad. He’ll be such a loss to the school. The boys will be devastated. Will the school be offering grief counselling?
Rose Oliversmum: Anyone know what pages they’re meant to do for chemistry? Ollie’s homework diary says ‘do questions 1-4’ but no page numbers!

As the resulting police investigation reveals more and more of Aberfal’s long-hidden secrets the list of suspects who wanted the headmaster dead grows by the day. And far from being a glittering jewel of exclusivity and excellence, it would appear Aberfal Boys High School is rotten to its core…

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MY REVIEW:

“You can never tell which one’s the bad apple, can you?”

Aberfal High. A sort-after independent school for boys that offers only the highest quality education to the best students. It’s a school parents dream of sending their sons to. Until the day when their Headteacher is found murdered in his office. Rumours swirl and the Year Seven Mums’ WhatsApp Group is brimming with gossip and speculation. Who killed Mr. Newhall?

Tense, twisty and wickedly funny, One Bad Apple was a riveting thriller that exposes the dark secrets lurking in the halls of an eminent boys high school. Skillfully written, cleverly plotted, insightful and Jo Jakeman uses mixed media to tell the story from multiple points of view. The complex characters are ones we will all recognise, especially those of us who’ve braved the gauntlett of the school run and playground politics. Piece by piece she unveils the anxiety, secrets and tensions bubbling beneath the shiny veneer of the perfect lives of the teachers, parents and students of Aberfal High. I was in her thrall, devouring almost all of this book in just one sitting, unable to turn away from the drama and chaos that was unfolding. There was an abundance of suspects and my suspicion vacillated between a couple of them, but I was floored when all was revealed. I fell for all of the red herrings and am still trying to figure out how I missed the signs. Well played, Ms. Jakeman.

So, if you’re looking for an original, funny and riveting thriller that will keep you turning the pages, this is the book for you.

Rating: 🍎🍎🍎🍎

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jo was the winner of the prestigious Friday Night Live competition at York Festival of Writing.

Her debut psychological thriller was published in the UK as Sticks and Stones by Harvill Secker (Penguin Random House) and as The Exes’ Revenge in the USA and Canada. It was shortlisted for the Best Revenge Thriller at the Dead Good Reader Awards 2019.

Since then Jo has had two more books published by Harvill Secker (Safe House and What His Wife Knew) They have been translated into several languages.

One Bad Apple was released in September 2024.

​Jo lives in Cornwall with her family and is an avid wild swimmer, making the most of her home county.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Last Princess by Ellen Alpsten

Published November 7th, 2024 by Sunbird Stories
Historical Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical Fantasy, Adventure Fiction

The Last Princess is out today! Thanks to Ellen Alspten and Sunbird Stories for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. And don’t miss our chat with the author on November 13th on the SquadPods’s Instagram.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Young and beautiful Gytha Godwinson is the envy of England when her father Harold seizes the country’s crown in early 1066. But soon, treachery tears her house apart, and triumph turns to terror. An evil star appears, heralding the end of an era and a new beginning for Britain. Her family and the country seem cursed. Yet even as she suffers loss, betrayal and humiliation, Gytha is determined to regain what is rightfully hers.

In a stunning re-telling of 1066, international bestselling author Ellen Alpsten has created a captivating new heroine in Gytha Godwinson. Witness the end of England’s ancient house, the demise of a cursed kingdom and the emergence of a new empire: ‘The Last Princess’ bridges between myth and modernity.

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MY REVIEW:

1066. A date we all know. But until now we’ve only heard one side of the story. The Last Princess captures that famous year through the eyes of Gytha Godwinson, the daughter of King Harold II. It is a story of princes and princesses, kings and queens, warriors, sorceresses, fairies, magic, mythology and religion. It is the story of the battle for a kingdom that tears a family apart and the young girl grieving those she’s lost. And it’s a story of survival, strength and resilience. 

Ellen Alpsten’s books are always an auto-read for me and I’ve been a fan of her writing ever since I read her debut, Tsarina. So I was excited when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read The Last Princess as one of our featured books this month.

While I’ve obviously heard of 1066 and the Battle of Hastings, I’ve never gone beyond the basics I was taught in school so I was looking forward to learning more about that time, especially from a lesser-known point of view. I’ll be honest, I’d never heard of Gytha, but I am so glad to have met her through this book. Alpsten captures her essence perfectly, balancing her royalty with someone who is also deeply human and relatable. She’s determined, brave and resilient, but also scared and naive. I felt like I’d stepped into her shoes, feeling every emotion alongside her: her confusion as her father took the throne, her worry as he went to battle, her gut-wrenching grief at his death, her terror as she wondered what her family’s fate might be and her determination to survive against the odds. I loved reading her. 

From the moment I read the author’s note at the beginning of the book I was captivated by this story. Exquisitely written and meticulously researched, Alpsten transported me back almost one thousand years and immersed me in Gytha’s world, flawlessly educating while also entertaining me. I was so completely immersed that the ending snuck up on me. And what a cliffhanger! I’m going to need book two as soon as possible. 

Historical fiction fans, don’t miss this book!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ellen Alpsten was born and raised in the Kenyan highlands, where she dressed up her many pets and forced them to listen to her stories.

Upon graduating from the ‘Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris’, she worked as a news-anchor for Bloomberg TV London. While working gruesome night shifts on breakfast TV, she started to write in earnest, every day, after work, a nap and a run. So much for burning midnight oil!

Today, Ellen works as an author and as a journalist for international publications such as Vogue, Standpoint, and CN Traveller. She lives in London with her husband, three sons, and a moody fox red Labrador.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The DallerGut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee

Published August 1st, 2024 by Wildfire
Fantasy Fiction, Magical Realism, Humorous Fantasy, Translated Fiction

Welcome to my thoughts on this uplifting and unforgettable debut. Thank you to Ollie at Wildfire for sending me a copy of the proof in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

*THE INSTANT SATURDAY TIMES #2 BESTSELLER*

‘Readers can’t get enough of this enchanting story’ The Sun

‘Filled to the brim with joy’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘A delightful journey into a fantasy realm where dreams make everything better’ Daily Mail

|| THE #1 KOREAN BESTSELLER WITH OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD ||

In a mysterious town hidden in our collective subconscious there’s a department store that sells dreams. Day and night, visitors both human and animal shuffle in to purchase their latest adventure. Each floor specializes in a specific type of dream: childhood memories, food dreams, ice skating, dreams of stardom. Flying dreams are almost always sold out. Some seek dreams of loved ones who have died.

For Penny, an enthusiastic new hire, working at the store is the opportunity of a lifetime. As she uncovers the workings of this whimsical world, she bonds with a cast of unforgettable characters, including DallerGut, the flamboyant and wise owner, Babynap Rockabye, a famous dream designer, Maxim, a nightmare producer, and the many customers who dream to heal, dream to grow, and dream to flourish.

A captivating story that will leave a lingering magical feeling in readers’ minds, this is the first book in a bestselling duology for anyone exhausted from the reality of their daily life.

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MY REVIEW:

“‘I believe there are two ways to love your life, Penny. The first is to work hard to change your life when you feel unsatisfied.’
‘That seems about right.’ Penny nods.
‘The second option may look easier, but its actually more difficult. And even if you do change your life through the first option, you must ultimately get through the second to be at complete peace.’
‘And what is that?’
To accept your life as it is and be grateful. It’s easier said than done. But if you can do it, I believe this will help you realise happiness has just been around the corner.’”

Breathtaking, magical and uplifting, DallerGut Dream Department Store is a mesmerising tale that I knew would be one of my favourites of the year within its first few pages. Set in a mysterious town that is hidden in our collective subconscious and only visited when we sleep, the story follows Penny, a young dream enthusiast who is given the opportunity of a lifetime when she’s hired at the store. As Penny learns the ropes she acts as our guide to this enchanting world and its unforgettable characters. 

Miye Lee has created a word that leaps from the pages, her evocative imagery and masterful storytelling merging to create a world that is dreamlike but also vividly real. A world where you don’t question the giant furry creatures who hand out PJs to naked sleepers, leprechauns who run the shoe store next door, and where dreams are paid for in emotions rather than cash. I love the idea of there being a whole industry that revolves around dreams and that there was even a dreammaker who created dreams for our furry friends. This book was exactly what I needed after an October filled with dark and emotional reads. It made my spirit soar and comforted me like a warm hug; exactly what I needed on these dreary autumn days. 

The book is filled with quirky characters who were a joy to read and is told from multiple points of view. This allows us to not only get to know Penny and the staff, but also some of their customers, too. I enjoyed the customer’s perspectives and this is where Ms. Lee explored a range of more serious topics such as love, self-confidence, grief and trauma. And by following the customers we see what leads them to purchase the dream, what happens in the dream, and the impact it has on them afterwards.  But while I enjoyed this aspect of the story, I don’t mind admitting it was Penny and the rest of the characters who live and work in this mysterious town who stole my heart. They soon felt like old friends and I was bereft when I arrived at the end of the book and had to say goodbye to them. But then I remembered I could return to them in the sequel and all was right again. 

Whimsical, dreamy, original and affecting, DallerGut Dream Department Store is a spectacular debut. Highly recommended. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Miye Lee  was born in Busan in 1990. After graduating from the Busan National University School of Materials Science and Engineering, she worked as a semiconductor engineer at Samsung Electronics. Her debut novel Dallergut Dream Department Store published entirely funded through a crowdfunding service in Korea in 2020 and has since drawn many enthusiastic responses and favourable reviews.

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MEET THE TRANSLATOR:

Sandy Joosun Lee is a Korean-to-English translator based in Seoul. She studied Literature/Writing in University of California, San Diego. Her translations include Won-pyung Sohn’s Almond (HarperVia, 2020) and Miye Lee’s DallerGut Dream Department Store duology (Wildfire, 2023). She also works in animation, translating and developing animated content, which includes The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021) and Star Wars: Visions (2023). She is a member of the translator collective Smoking Tigers.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx