Tag: Contemporary Romance

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Re-Write by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn

Published February 13th, 2025 by Viking
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this delightful romcom. Thank you to Viking for inviting me to take part and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

ONE STORY. TWO EXES. CAN THEY CHANGE THEIR ENDING?

‘Such a fun, romantic read’ Beth O’Leary
‘This book melted my stone cold heart’ Jendella Benson

Temi and Wale meet in London. They flirt, date, meet each other’s friends.
Then they break up. And Wale goes on a reality dating show.

Instead of giving in to heartbreak, Temi throws herself into her dream: writing. She’s within touching distance of a book deal that would solve all her problems. But publishers keep passing on her novel and bills still have to be paid. So, when the opportunity to ghost-write a celebrity autobiography arises, Temi accepts.

And, of course, the celebrity turns out to be Wale…

Will Temi and Wale repeat the patterns of their past? Or can they write a whole new story?

********

MY REVIEW:

Witty, fun, entertaining and romantic, The Re-Write is a delightful romcom that follows aspiring author, Temi, and her ex-boyfriend, Wale. When Wale ended their relationship he broke Temi’s heart and she can’t seem to get over him. This isn’t helped by his appearance on the reality dating show, The Villa, and everyone on social media talking about him. To try and help her heartache, Temi throws herself into her writing and is even hired as a ghostwriter for a celebrity memoir. The only problem is that the celebrity it’s about is her ex…

I loved Lizzie Damilola-Blackburn’s debut, Yinka, Where Iz Your Huzband?, so I was very excited to read this book. I’m a big fan of a good second chance romance, and this one is done brilliantly. The concept of two exes trying to work together while one is still trying to get over the other is ripe for chaos, conflict and high emotion, and Damilola-Blackburn explores them all, taking us along for the bumpy ride along with Temi and Wale. 

While this is a lighthearted read, it doesn’t shy away from deeper subjects, touching on issues including racism, toxic masculinity, sexual assault, alcoholism, online trolling, and being a carer. Another topic at the heart of this story is racial stereotyping, which is the basis for Wale’s whole memoir. He wants to break the stereotypes of the playboy Black man. And when we first meet him it does seem that his actions speak so loudly that he couldn’t possibly be anything but a playboy. But Damilola-Blackburn reminds us that there can be so much more to someone than meets the eye. I had been totally Team Temi at the start, but as we learned more about who Wale really is I found myself liking him and rooting for them to find a happy ending together, even if I did want to shake them both many times along the way. 

A heartfelt and compelling second-chance romance that had me hooked from start to finish, I highly recommend The Re-Write. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lizzie Damilola Blackburn is a British-Nigerian writer, born in Peckham, who wants to tell the stories that she and her friends have longed for but never seen – romcoms ‘where Cinderella is Black and no-one bats an eyelid’. In 2019 she won the Literary Consultancy Pen Factor Writing Competition with the early draft of Yinka, Where is your Huzband?, which she had been writing alongside juggling her job at Carers UK. She has been at the receiving end of the question in the title of her novel many times, and now lives with her husband in Milton Keynes.

********

BUY THE BOOK

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025 Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Serial Killer’s Guide To Marriage by Asia Mackay

Published January 14th, 2025 by Wildfire
Thriller, Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance

Happy Publication Day to this crazy, twisted and addictive thriller. Thank you to Wildfire for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A couple that kills together stays together.
DISCOVER THE ADDICTIVE THRILLER READERS CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT

‘Sexy, stylish, thrilling. A razor-sharp tale of marriage and murder.’ CHRIS WHITAKER
‘Your sassy, twisted must-read of 2025’ JANICE HALLETT
‘If you liked Mr & Mrs Smith, you’ll love this’ CLARE MACKINTOSH
‘Darkly funny and clever’ KATY BRENT
‘Huge fun. You won’t put it down.’ HARRIET TYCE

Hazel and Fox are an ordinary married couple with a baby. Except for one small thing: they’re ex-serial killers.

They had it all. An enviable London lifestyle, five-star travels, and plenty of bad men to kill. Not many power couples know how to get away with murder.

Then Hazel fell pregnant and they gave it all up for life in the suburbs; dinner parties instead of body disposal.

But recently Hazel has started to feel that itch again. When she kills someone behind Fox’s back and brings the police to their door, she must do anything she can to protect her family.

This could save their marriage – unless it kills them first.

********

MY REVIEW:

“I always knew our life together would involve bloodshed. I just never thought it would be ours.”

Hazel and Fox may seem like an ordinary married couple. But they have a secret: they are serial killers. Or at least they used to be. It’s been 1170 days since Haze’s last kill and she’s struggling to feel content in her life as a suburban wife and mum. She misses killing and is feeling that itch again. But she’s trying to be good, and even starts making mum friends to try and find a way to feel happy again. But when she kills someone behind Fox’s back, Haze must find a way to keep her secret while keeping her family safe. It’s the only way she can save her marriage. Or will it kill them first?

A heart-pounding thriller for anyone with a dark and twisted sense of humour, A Serial KIller’s Guide To Marriage is a sexy, sinister and addictive read. I adored this book. Perfect for fans of Sweetpea, Dexter or Why Women Kill, this was my first read of the year and the perfect way to start. This is a clear-your-schedule and lock-out-the-world kind of book that I devoured in almost one sitting. 

Haze and Fox are fantastic characters that I loved reading and I was completely immersed in the lives of this toxic but compelling couple. Told from both points of view, we see how each of them are dealing with normal life following their vow to stop killing for the sake of their daughter. Fox seems to be managing best, happy to do what it takes to keep little Bibi safe. And while Haze fiercely loves her daughter, she’s bored by suburban life and longs for the heady days of killing. She is also resentful it has been for Fox to give it up, not realising he has his own struggles but has just found a healthier way to deal with it. In flashbacks, we see how they became killers and then a team, as well as getting a glimpse of their serial killer days. The characters and story are so well written with the reader really feeling Haze’s internal struggle in particular. I’d find myself feeling sorry for her before then remembering she wants to kill people for fun. 

Darkly funny, bold and totally brilliant, this one is out today. Add it to your TBR now! 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Asia Mackay is a Chinese Scottish author and mother of four based in London. Asia studied Anthropology at Durham University and began her career in television. She moved to China, presented and produced lifestyle programmes in Shanghai before returning to London where she worked for the likes of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, and subsequently completed a Faber Academy course. Her debut novel Killing It was the Runner Up in Richard and Judy’s Search for a Bestseller competition and Runner Up/ Exceptionally Recognised for the Comedy Women In Print prize.Both Killing It and its sequel The Nursery have been optioned for TV. Asia’s third book A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage will be out in January 2025 and has also been optioned for TV in a significant pre-empt.

Asia completed the Curtis Brown Creative Original TV Drama Serial course where she developed Another Life, a sci-fi thriller about a woman trialling a new virtual reality where she leads the exhilarating life as a fearless detective. A pilot she wrote for  Sky Studios has recently been optioned and Asia will also be in the Writers Room and be an Executive Producer in the screen adaptations of her books.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2023

BOOK REVIEW: The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary

Published September 26th, 2023 by Quercus
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Fiction, Festive Ficiton

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

*THE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*

‘Beth O’Leary is that rare, one-in-a-million talent who can make you laugh, swoon, cry and ache all in the same book’ Emily Henry


They’ll do anything to save the hotel, except work together . . .

Welcome to Forest Manor Hotel, where the staff and guests are one happy family. Except for Izzy and Lucas – bitter rivals banned from working the same shift, for everyone’s sake.

After struggling for years, the hotel may soon have to close its doors forever. But when Izzy returns a guest’s lost wedding ring, the reward convinces management this might fix everything. With four rings still sitting in lost property, Izzy and Lucas are forced to work together to try to save the day.

But as their rivalry becomes something much more complicated, Izzy and Lucas start to wonder if there’s more at stake here than the hotel’s future . . .

********

MY REIVEW:

Forest Manor Hotel and Spa, New Forest, prides itself on being one big, happy family. Well, except for Izzy and Lucas, who are such bitter rivals that they are banned from working together on reception. Business hasn’t been good since the pandemic and the hotel may soon have to close, so a collapsed roof just before Christmas is not what they need. They need to raise funds, and fast. So Izzy and Lucas are charged with sorting through lost property together to try and raise the money needed to fix the roof. And when Izzy receives a reward after returning a lost wedding ring, it looks like they’ve found the solution. There are four more rings in lost property waiting for their owners to be found. Can Izzy and Lucas work together to find them and save the hotel?

Beth O’Leary never fails to deliver. Heartwarming, witty and chaotic The Wake-Up Call is an addictive enemies-to-lovers romcom I couldn’t stop listening to.  One of the things I love about Beth’s books is that not only does she deliver sweet, first-class romance and sizzling chemistry, but she also delivers a layered storyline and compelling characters that leap from the pages. And Izzy and Lucas do just that. I loved their banter, fierce rivalry, and how deeply they loathed one another. But, as we know, loathing can often hide other feelings, and that was certainly the case with them. The sparks were flying and it was fun watching them wrestle with their feelings as they argued and battled it out to try and save the hotel. I was totally invested in their relationship and rooting for them to end up together. The background characters were entertaining and I enjoyed seeing one of the characters from one of Beth’s previous books make an appearance. 

Being set at Christmas made this the perfect festive read to enjoy at the end of last year and I loved the many ways Ms. O’Leary wove the season into the story, including the play on the traditional Christmas rhyme by using five gold rings to try and save the hotel. I was heavily invested in this storyline and rooting for Izzy and Lucas to reunite the rings with their owners and raise the money needed to save the hotel. This storyline added an extra layer of tension that kept me hooked and on the edge of my seat alongside the will they or won’t they aspect of their burgeoning romance. 

An entertaining romcom that will have you hooked at any time of the year, I highly recommend this book. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Beth is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages. Her debut, The Flatshare, sold over a million copies and is now a major TV series. Her subsequent novels, The Switch, The Road Trip, The No-Show and The Wake-Up Call, were all instant bestsellers. Beth writes her books in the Hampshire countryside with a very badly behaved Golden Retriever for company. If she’s not at her desk, you’ll usually find her curled up somewhere with a book, a cup of tea and several woolly jumpers (whatever the weather).

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Mother of All Christmases by Milly Johnson

Published November 7th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Domestic Fiction, Christmas Story, Holiday Fiction, Festive Fiction

Welcome to my review for this gorgeous festive read. Thank you to SJV for sending me copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the Sunday Times bestselling author, The Mother of All Christmases is a gorgeous read full of love, life, laughter, a few tears – and crackers!

‘The feeling you get when you read a Milly Johnson book should be bottled and made available on the NHS’ Debbie Johnson

Eve Glace – co-owner of the theme park Winterworld – is having a baby and her due date is a perfectly timed 25th December. And she’s decided that she and her husband Jacques should renew their wedding vows with all the pomp that was missing the first time. But growing problems at Winterworld keep distracting them … 

Annie Pandoro and her husband Joe own a small Christmas cracker factory, and are well set up and happy together despite life never blessing them with a much-wanted child. But when Annie finds that the changes happening to her body aren’t typical of the menopause but pregnancy, her joy is uncontainable. 

Palma Collins has agreed to act as a surrogate, hoping the money will get her out of the gutter in which she finds herself. But when the couple she is helping split up, is she going to be left carrying a baby she never intended to keep?

Annie, Palma and Eve all meet at the ‘Christmas Pudding Club’, a new directive started by a forward-thinking young doctor to help mums-to-be mingle and share their pregnancy journeys. Will this group help each other to find love, contentment and peace as Christmas approaches?

********

MY REVIEW:

Charming, cosy and captivating, The Mother of All Christmases is another winner from the Queen of feel-good fiction. Exquisitely written, this was a delight to read from start to finish, feeling like I’d been wrapped in a warm, soft blanket of festive joy. 

The Mother of All Christmases follows three women: Eve Glace, Annie Pandoro and Palma Collins, who meet at the ‘Christmas Pudding Club’, a group for local mums that are expecting their babies around Christmas. The women strike up friendships, helping each other through not only the ups and downs of pregnancy, but other aspects of their lives. I loved these women. They may be very different people from unique situations, but they found similarities that bonded them and formed genuine friendships. I was rooting for each of them and hope to see more of them in future books. 

This was a festive delight and I never wanted it to end. Funny warm and moving, there’s a wonderful, cosy vibe that radiates from these pages and a fabulous sense of community and friendship that runs through the story. I think the secret to some of that is the setting. Like myself, Milly Johnson is a Yorkshire lass and sets her stories here in the North. This gives them a feeling of home and comfort that I love. And I don’t think you can beat the warmth and friendliness of Northerners, which really shines through in this and her other stories. This merges with Johnson’s magnificent storytelling and compelling characters to create stories that never miss time and again. 

The perfect Christmas pick-me-up. Add this to your TBR now!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 21 novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella (‘The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe’) and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poet, a professional joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015, the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020, the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2021 and the Richard Whiteley Award for Inspiration to the County of Yorkshire in 2022.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Her 21st novel ‘The Happiest Ever After’ is out now and is about Polly Potter who finds herself living at the seaside with no recollection of how she got there, thinking she is the leading character in a book she is writing. But what happens when Polly – or Sabrina as she believes she is – finds out who she is and has to make a decision whether or not to go back to the lesser life she left behind. Full of sea air, sand, seagulls… and scarecrows.

Do check out Milly’s website – it’s easy to find if you search for her name. She has a monthly newsletter with insider info, competitions and even birthday celebrations.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliopiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: All I Want For Christmas is You by Karen Swan

Published October 10th, 2024 by Pan Macmillan
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Fiction

Today I’m sharing my review for this cosy winter romance. Thank you to Pan MacMillan for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest reivew.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Three first dates and an art-world mystery – it’s going to be a busy Christmas for Darcy. All I Want for Christmas is the Sunday Times bestselling cosy winter romance from Karen Swan, author of Christmas By Candlelight.

Can she find love this Christmas?

Christmas in Copenhagen is a magical time of year but Darcy Cotterell isn’t feeling festive. Newly single, again, she’s not even going home for Christmas. Instead she will be spending her holiday finishing her art history PhD. Her best friend, Freja, has other ideas. She signs Darcy up to a dating app, determined that she won’t be lonely this Christmas.

Darcy agrees to three dates – but her mind is on work, not play: an unknown portrait by Denmark’s greatest painter has been found and she is tasked with identifying the woman in the painting. During her research, she encounters sexy, arrogant lawyer Max Lorensen – who happens to be bachelor number one! The attraction is instant but, knowing they must work together, they abandon the match. Or try to. But their feelings are undeniable – until Darcy discovers Max has an agenda . . .

********

MY REVIEW:

Christmas in Copenhagen may be magical but Darcy isn’t feeling the festive spirit this year. Newly single and feeling jaded, she isn’t even going home to celebrate Christmas and is staying home to finish her art history PhD. Her best friend, Freja, is determined that won’t happen and signs her up to a dating app, telling her to pick three men to date. But Darcy is distracted. At work an unknown portrait by Denmark’s greatest painter has just been discovered and it’s Darcy’s job to identify the subject. During her research she meets the gorgeous but arrogant lawyer Max, who also happens to be one of the men she met on the app. Though they decide work and romance shouldn’t mix, they find it’s hard to resist each other. Until Darcy discovers Max had a secret agenda all along…

One of my favourite parts of the run up to Christmas is reading festive fiction so I was delighted when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read this book. A cosy winter love story cleverly woven together with a tense and twisty mystery, it was the perfect book to read snuggled up under a blanket while drinking hot chocolate, which is exactly what I did. Funny, layered, heartwarming and escapist, it pulled me in from the first page and held me captive to the last, surprising me at every turn. 

Enemies-to-lovers is my favourite romance trope and this one offers more yearning and sizzling attraction than any I’ve read before. Throughout the book you are wondering if Max and Darcy not only will get together, but if they should. Neither of them are full of pure intentions and Max is a very flawed hero who seemed to throw up a red flag every time you thought he was Mr. Right. Though I admit to rooting for them to be a couple most of the time. I also understood her reservations after being hurt so deeply. But this was a great reminder that our  happy-ever-after could still be out there – maybe even just around the corner. Ultimately, I was rooting for Darcy to have her happy ending, with or without a man. 

So, if you’re looking for a cosy festive romance that’s just a little bit different, this is the book for you.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Karen Swan is the Sunday Times top three bestselling author and her novels sell all over the world. She writes two books each year – one for the summer period and one for the Christmas season. Previous summer titles include The Spanish Promise, The Hidden Beach and The Secret Path and for winter, Christmas at Tiffany’s, The Christmas Secret and Together by Christmas.

Her books are known for their evocative locations and Karen sees travel as vital research for each story. She loves to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots.

Her historical series called The Wild Isle, is based upon the dramatic evacuation of the Scottish island St Kilda in the summer of 1930.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Home For Christmas by Heidi Swain

Published October 10th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Fiction, Festive Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this funny festive read. Thank you to SJV at Books and the City for the invitation to take part and for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Bella is living her best life in Wynbridge, with her beloved Spaniel, Tink. She’s found a way to keep the house she inherited from her grandparents while expanding her dream business – Away With the Fairies – and she’s ecstatic that Christmas is on the horizon!
 
In fact, everything is perfect until family friend, Catherine Connelly asks Bella if she’d be willing to rent part of the house to freelance author, Jude who is researching the history of the Connelly Clan and Wynthorpe Hall ahead of turning his findings into a book. The plan had been for Jude to stay at the hall, but he can’t cope with the chaos and Bella reluctantly agrees to open her door to him.
 
Initially, the pair clash but then friendlier feelings begin to grow and Bella finds herself wondering if Jude could become more than just another guest before it’s time for him to leave. That is, until he announces he has no time for Christmas!
 
With her favourite time of the year suddenly in jeopardy, will Bella ever feel like she’s home for Christmas?

********

MY REVIEW:

Bella lives with her Spaniel, Tink, in her late grandparents home in Wynbridge. Her business, Away with the Fairies, is slowly expanding and life couldn’t be better. But then a family friend asks if she’d be willing to rent out part of her home to Jude, a freelance author who is researching and writing a book about  the Connelly Clan and Wynthorpe Hall. She reluctantly agrees and the pair clash immediately. But Bella soon realises she’s falling for her annoying house guest. Could they be more? Or will Jude’s dislike of Bella’s favourite season put an end to things before they’ve even begun.

Charming, festive, funny and uplifting, this book is like a warm hot chocolate with all the trimmings on a cold winter day. It’s been a while since I’ve read a Heidi Swain book and this reminded me why I love them so much. Well-written, compelling, cosy and laugh-out-loud funny, her books just put you in a good mood. But this one feels extra special as it isn’t just infused with romance, it is also sprinkled with festive charm and fairy dust that expertly work their magic. I loved the small-town charm of the story and how welcoming it felt. I’ve been all about the darker reads lately and didn’t know if I was in the mood for anything lighthearted and festive. But I’m a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers romance and this was the read I didn’t know I needed. 

Bella is a great protagonist and I felt an immediate connection to her. Her whimsical character was a joy to read and her love of fairies brought back my own childhood love of the Flower Fairies series. I understood why she was so fearful of giving into her feelings for Jude, especially as he’s only visiting, but I was rooting for this pair from the start.  Jude was a great love interest. He’s spiky and grumpy enough to understand Bella’s dislike of him at the start, but soon changes and has us rooting for them to give into their feelings as they were so obviously meant to be together. 

So if you’re looking for a romance that will leave you warm and fuzzy while also getting you in the festive mood, this is for you. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Heidi Swain is a Sunday Times Bestselling Author who writes commercial fiction for Simon and Schuster.

She has three series set in fictitious Wynbridge, Nightingale Square and Wynmouth and writes two titles a year – a summer and a Christmas book.

She also writes short stories and non-fiction for magazines and is represented by Amanda Preston.

Heidi always wanted to be a published author and her big writing break came in 2014 when she submitted The Cherry Tree Café to Books and The City (the digital first imprint of Simon and Schuster). The book was published a year later and she hasn’t stopped writing since.

Her books are available in paperback, E-book and audio and have been published in Italy, France and Germany as well as the UK.

She lives in the east of England, is a member of the RNA and the Society of Authors and has a TBR pile which is always out of control.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reaidng, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Art of Belonging by Eleanor Ray

Published September 12th, 2024 by Piatkus
Contemporary Romance, Humorous Fiction, Domestic Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this hopeful and uplfiting story. Thanks to Vic at Insta Book Tours for the invitation to take part and to Piatkus for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the bestselling author of Everything Is Beautiful, comes an utterly heartwarming new novel, about what it truly means to belong to those you love.

‘A warm-hearted, emotional read’ Daily Mail

‘Gripping, endearing and thought-provoking, this beautifully woven novel championing family, solidarity and friendship is full of warmth and heart. A joy from start to finish – one not to miss’ HOLLY MILLER

‘Joyful and tender’ Woman’s Own

‘The Art of Belonging is just the loveliest, uplifting novel and fills the soul with joy’ LORNA COOK

‘A delightful, big-hearted story of family and forgiveness’ Good Housekeeping

‘Heartfelt and heartwarming, this uplifting read is full of characters to cherish and cheer for’ PHAEDRA PATRICK

…………………………………………

Sometimes you need to open your heart to find where you truly belong . . .

When unexpected circumstances bring Grace’s estranged daughter, Amelia, and granddaughter, Charlotte, to live in her home, complicated feelings start to emerge, revealing a messy and emotional past which drove this family apart.

It will take a school mystery, an exquisite miniature railway and some brave decisions to help them each find not only themselves, but also each other – and to appreciate what it truly means to belong together.

This uplifting novel will warm your heart and touch your soul, and remind you of all the reasons humans can be downright wonderful.

********

MY REVIEW

The Art of Belonging follows three generations of one family septuagenarian Grace, her estranged daughter Amelia, and granddaughter Charlotte. When Amelia’s marriage breaks down she and Charlotte move in with Grace while they get back on their feet, forcing Grace and Amelia to face their complicated relationship and the heartbreak that led to their relationship breaking down. Heartwarming, tender, emotional and endearing, this story of family, friendship, loneliness, forgiveness and healing will warm you from the inside out. 

I loved Eleanor Ray’s outstanding debut so I couldn’t wait to read this book. Once again, Ms. Ray has crafted a thought-provoking story written full of pathos, charm, wit and heart. Difficult and emotional subjects are written with compassion and while the pain of these characters leaps from the pages, so does their joy. We know from the start that Grace and Amelia are estranged and that Grace blames herself, but as the story goes on their history is slowly unravelled, exploring the many nuances of their relationship and reminding us how easy it can be to misunderstand someone or for two people to view the same situation completely differently. Seeing these two women repeatedly misunderstand and hurt one another broke my heart and I was silently screaming at them to talk about things so they could finally see one another for who they truly were. 

The three women at the heart of this book are compelling, complicated, flawed and wonderful characters who I adored. I’ll admit, I had a particular soft spot for Grace and a highlight of the book for me was watching her relationship with Charlotte blossom. The background characters are as richly drawn as the main characters and I loved the varied cast of ebullient characters on these pages. I do love an outsider, so I loved that many of these characters weren’t popular people and had unique traits and hobbies. There are also some beautiful friendships on these pages that were a delight to read, especially the friendship between Charlotte and Sammy. 

So if you’re looking for an uplifting and hopeful read that will make your day brighter, this is the book for you.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eleanor Ray has an MA in English Literature from Edinburgh University and lives in London with her husband and three young children.

Eleanor was inspired to write Everything is Beautiful by the objects her toddler collects and treasures – twigs, empty water bottles and wilting daisies.

The Art of Belonging is her second novel and was written in lock down. It is about the messy, complicated and wonderful things that can happen when families are together.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers talking part in the tour.

Categories
Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2023 Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Talking at Night by Claire Daverley

Published June 6th, 2023 by Michael Joseph
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Domestic Fiction, New Adult Ficiton, Coming-of-Age Story

Here’s my bookish thoughts on Talking at Night, the heartwarming debut which was one of our SquadPod Featured Books in July. Thank you to Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE LOVE STORY THAT WILL KEEP YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT


‘A beautiful love story. I devoured it’ JOJO MOYES
Gave me One Day vibes’ LIBBY PAGE
‘Basically impossible to put down’ BOBBY PALMER
‘Deeply romantic’ LAURA BARNETT
‘Beautiful and very clever’ FEARNE COTTON

‘Stunning, tender and true’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING SUMMER READING
INCLUDED IN THE INDEPENDENT’S ‘BEST ROMANTIC SUMMER READS’

—-

Will and Rosie meet as teenagers.

They’re opposites in every way. She overthinks everything; he is her twin brother’s wild and unpredictable friend. But over secret walks home and late-night phone calls, they become closer – destined to be one another’s great love story.

Until, one day, tragedy strikes, and their future together is shattered.

But as the years roll on, Will and Rosie can’t help but find their way back to each other. Time and again, they come close to rekindling what might have been.

What do you do when the one person you should forget is the one you just can’t let go?

********

MY REVIEW:

Tender, heartfelt and affecting, Talking at Night is a deeply beautiful love story. It follows Rosie and Will, who meet as teenagers and have an instant connection. The pair are total opposites: Rosie is the stereotypical ‘good girl’ and overthinks everything, and Will is the wild and unpredictable best friend of her twin brother. It is clear from the start that this is more than teenage infatuation, but, before their relationship gets the chance to start, tragedy strikes, destroying any chance of a future together. What follows is a memorable will they/won’t they love story that will make even the most cynical person believe in soulmates.

Oh, my heart. I’d heard that this book was emotional but I was still unprepared for how it wreaked havoc on my emotions. Debut author Claire Daverley’s writing is simple but beautiful, allowing the characters and the story to shine in her exploration of love, friendship, loss and grief. Achingly human, acutely observed, and deeply moving, this character-driven romance has much more depth than your average, lighthearted love story. Real love isn’t all hearts and rainbows, and Daverley isn’t afraid to show that, exploring the flawed, painful side of love alongside the joy and laughter. But those things are still there. After all, this is a story about true love; that  all-consuming, red-hot, soulful love that is impossible to resist. It feels like a very fresh and modern romance, revealing how bittersweet love can be. After all, the path to true love rarely runs smooth, and it’s certainly a bumpy journey for Rosie and Will. But will it be worth it in the end?

Rosie and Will are very real, three-dimensional characters who I found likeable and relatable. Their romance gets off to a rocky start after a tragedy and we wonder if they will ever truly find their way back to one another. They try not to, seeing other people and severing contact on and off over the years, but they can never forget each other or completely let go and always find themselves drawn back together. We go on this journey with them, Daverley opening them up and revealing their innermost thoughts and feelings. And I felt every emotion alongside them, leaving me wrung out but heartened when it was all over. 

Passionate, poignant, heartwarming and compelling, Talking at Night is a glorious debut you won’t forget. Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

********

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Claire Daverley was born in 1991 and has been writing stories ever since she was six years old.

After graduating with a degree in Fine Art from The University of Oxford, she began a career in publishing, writing about books by day, but penning her own by night, on trains and in the light of the early mornings.

She has spent most of her life in Hertfordshire, but now lives in Scotland by the sea with her husband and spaniel.

Her debut novel, Talking at Night, has sold in twenty-four countries to date.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

Categories
Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

Audiobook Review: How To Kill Men and Get Away with It by Katy Brent

Published February 16th 2023 by HQ
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Dark Comedy, Contemporary Romance

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Meet Kitty Collins.

FRIEND. LOVER. KILLER.

He was following me. That guy from the nightclub who wouldn’t leave me alone.

I hadn’t intended to kill him of course. But I wasn’t displeased when I did and, despite the mess I made, I appeared to get away with it.

That’s where my addiction started…

I’ve got a taste for revenge and quite frankly, I’m killing it.

A deliciously dark, hilariously twisted story about friendship, love, and murder. Fans of My Sister the Serial Killer, How to Kill Your Family and Killing Eve will love this wickedly clever novel!

********

MY REVIEW:

“The men I kill deserve it. Every single last little bit of it…”

Influencer Kitty Collins is followed home from a night out by the man who wouldn’t leave her alone in the night club. When he attacks her she accidentally kills him and, to her surprise, seems to get away with it. That night is the start of Kitty’s addiction. She has a taste for revenge. And she knows how to get away with murder…

A deliciously dark, twisted, witty and addictive story of friendship, love, life and murder, How To Kill Men and Get Away With It is an intoxicating mix of Dexter, Sweetpea and How To Kill Your Family. I devoured this in just a few hours, hooked from the first page and unable to stop once I’d started listening. The ink-black humour had me laughing out loud and there is an added layer of mystery to the story thanks to Kitty’s stalker and I enjoyed trying to guess who they might be, going through a number of suspects before ultimately deciding on my prediction.

I loved Kitty’s snarky, warped and fiery character. She’s someone I think all women will relate to on some level with her frustration of how some men treat women without any comeback. And while I’d obviously never kill anyone, I did enjoy living vicariously through Kitty as she took revenge on men for their predatory behaviour. Kitty’s relationship with her friends are a big part of the story and I enjoyed seeing this side to her, as well as the dilemmas it raised as she tries to keep her murderous activities secret. I also really enjoyed seeing her vulnerable and kind of insecure side to her when she met and fell for Charlie. Despite it all, I was rooting for her to find a happy ending rather than living her life alone wreaking revenge. 

Darkly funny, compelling and unflinching, this fast-paced thriller is one not to be missed.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 2 months listening for free*

********

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Katy is an author and award-winning journalist from the UK. She has worked on newspapers, magazines and websites since 2005, writing about popular culture. How To Kill Men and Get Away With It is her first novel.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Respect Rom Fic Romance Rocks

BLOG TOUR: Better Left Unsent by Lia Louis

Published April 11th, 2024 by Zaffre
Romantic Comedy, Humorous Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this witty and uplifting rom com. Thank you to Anne from Random Things Book Tours for the invitation to take part and to Zaffre for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

********

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

‘Laugh-out-loud, heartwarming tale’ BETH O’LEARY

Millie Chandler is known at work as the nice receptionist who got dumped by the company hotshot, and ever since then, she has vowed to keep everything to herself – her feelings, her hopes, and especially her fears.

But Millie does have an outlet: her emails. From sarcastic replies to her rude boss, rants to friends about their terrible taste in men to a five-hundred-word love declaration to her ex, who three years on, is about to marry someone else. Millie’s reality lives in her drafts until the morning she discovers that they are somehow in her sent folder. The truth is out.

As every dark secret she’s worked so hard to keep password protected is released, Millie must fix the chaos her words have caused.

Will Millie find the strength to open both her heart, and her inbox?

********

MY REVIEW:

“For the last couple of years my drafts have become my diary. A confessional. A haunted crypt of unsaid things. Things I wish I could say, things I really really want to say, but don’t in pursuit of an easy life…but now it’s out there… “

It’s a fear of the modern age; accidentally sending an email or text to someone that you didn’t want them to see. In Better Left Unsent, this dreaded nightmare becomes a reality for Millie when the many draft emails she’s written as an outlet for her heartache, frustration, and rage get sent to the people she never wanted to read them. With her innermost thoughts and feeling suddenly laid bare, Millie is left humiliated and scrambling to undo the damage. 

Witty, heartwarming and uplifting, this romcom was the perfect pick-me-up after some darker reads. Millie is a likeable character who was easy to relate to. As someone who often writes down my feelings as a way to get them out of my system, there are many ragey, sarcastic and heartrending notes I’ve written for my own sanity that I’d be mortified should they see the light of day so it was easy to put myself in Millie’s place and understand her toe-curling embarrassment. I would have liked to have seen more of the actual emails that were sent, such as the ones at the beginning of the book, but I loved how Lia Louis wrote the bumpy journey Millie took. The emotion leaped from the page as she attempted to mitigate the aftermath of the email disaster that affected every area of her life.

Some of the greatest shame Millie feels is from the emails she wrote while heartbroken after being dumped by Owen. We’ve all been there when you’re devastated, angry and confused, especially when they move on quickly while you’re struggling to get out of bed. It is through Millie’s relationship with Owen that Louis explores toxic relationships, emotional abuse, gaslighting and coercive control. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, and as she reflects on their broken relationship she begins to see the truth, and I loved seeing her emerge from the other side. There is also a non-toxic love interest in the form of Jack, and I loved reading their potential blossoming relationship as Ms. Louis captures the butterflies, anticipation, excitement and uncertainty that a new relationship brings. 

Funny, sweet and charming, Better Left Unsent is a story that reminds us that good things can come even from what we think are the worst moments of our lives.

Rating: 📨📨📨📨

********

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lia Louis lives in the United Kingdom with her partner and three young children. Before raising a family, she worked as a freelance copywriter and proofreader. She was the 2015 winner of Elle magazine’s annual writing competition and has been a contributor for Bloomsbury’s Writers and Artist’s blog for aspiring writers.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.