Tag: Literary Fiction

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BLOG TOUR: Please Take My Baby by Emma Robinson

Published October 17th, 2023 by Bookouture
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Literary Fiction, Saga

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this gut-wrenchingly emotional story. Thank you to Bookouture for the invitation to take part and eBook ARC.

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SYNOPSIS:

As I hand my newborn baby to my mother, I see the softness in her face as she gazes down at the tiny, helpless girl in her arms. And I feel my heart shatter as I say the words that will change all our lives… ‘Please, take my baby.’

I know she will be better off without me.But as I leave her behind that dark night, I wonder, will I ever see my baby again?

Will I have the chance to explain to little Erin why I had to go? Even if I do find the strength to return, what will my mother have told her?

Only one person really knows what happened, and why I had to do what I did.

I know the truth will come out some day. I don’t expect forgiveness. The only thing I hope is that my family can survive the fallout…

A heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting tale about the sacrifices mothers make for their children, this story will make you hold your loved ones tight. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes and Kate Hewitt.

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MY REVIEW:

“When you’re told a mother makes sacrifices, you think of the sleepless nights and the wrecking of your body and the nights you’ll have to stay home. But they are easy when compared with the biggest sacrifice. The one where you have to let them go. Worse, you have to make them feel as if they can walk away and not look back. Freedom without strings.”

My heart was not ready for this book. A story about identity and the relationship between a mother and her children that explores the sacrifices mothers make and what it means to really put your child first. Gut-wrenchingly emotional and moving, it broke my heart into pieces before putting them back together again. 

A story about four generations of women, a family secret that has been hidden for decades, and life-changing decisions, it centres around Erin, a forty-something divorcee who has recently moved back into her mother Ava’s home to help care for her as she battles dementia. The pair have always had a strained relationship and there is added tension in the home as Erin’s fifteen-year-old daughter, Harriet, is far from happy with the move as it meant leaving her school and friends behind. But it’is when Erin finds a photograph of her mother holding a baby she’s never seen before that things really begin to unravel, leading Erin to a shocking discovery that makes her question everything about herself and her life. 

“Layer upon layer of lies. Her whole childhood covered and hidden and papered over. Now those layers were peeling and tearing apart and what was she going to find underneath?”

Emma Robinson has created a beautifully and sensitively written story filled with compelling and real characters that make you feel everything they do. I felt like I walked in Erin’s shoes at every step and there were times I had to put the book down to compose myself before picking it up again. Themes of maternal sacrifice that run through every facet of the story but it was Erin’s agony over Harriet possibly moving away to live with her father that resonated most with me. Having recently sent my eldest off to university in another city I felt her pain in my soul but loved that she chose to put her daughter’s best interests above her own again and again.  

“Hang on in there. That’s how she felt, like she was hanging on by her fingernails to both her mother’s past and her daughter’s future. What would happen if she let go?”

Dementia is not an easy subject to write about but Robinson deals with it brilliantly, her skill for writing difficult subjects in a candid but sensitive way evident once again. She provides a raw, honest, emotional, and detailed exploration of dementia, the emotions it stirs up, and the repercussions for the patient’s whole family. I felt Ava’s confusion and fear as she moved between lucidity and forgetting simple things like how to make a cup of tea and Erin’s heartache and devastation was palpable, reminding me of how I felt watching my own grandmother descend deeper into dementia. 

Heartfelt, poignant and affirming, Please Take My Baby is a powerful and thought-provoking read that I highly recommend. Just make sure you have a box full of tissues handy.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Emma Robinson is a USA Today Bestseller with a passion for stories which explore the power of family and friendship in the most challenging circumstances. Whilst her early novels are humorous; her recent work focuses on emotional themes and these novels are both heart-breaking and life affirming.

​Emma currently lives in Essex, England with a husband, two children and a small black dog.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Amazon*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

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

*These links are affiliate links

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SQUADPOD REVIEWS: The Birdcage Library by Freya Berry

Published June 22nd, 2023 by Headline
Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

Welcome to my review for the gorgeously gothic The Birdcage Library. This was one of our summer Squadpod Book Club picks, so I’m late with this review. But this book was more than worth the wait for me. Thank you to Headline for the proof copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:
Dear Reader, the man I love is trying to kill me…

A mesmerising tale of buried secrets and dark obsession with shades of Daphne du Maurier, The Birdcage Library will hold you in its spell until the final page.

‘A delicious page-turning mystery within a mystery’ LIZ HYDER
‘A twisty treasure hunt of a novel… Utterly beguiling’ LIZZIE POOK
‘It glistens with a hint of the danger that lurks within‘ CHARLOTTE PHILBY
‘Dark, claustrophobic and clever storytelling’ JANE SHEMILT
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1932. Emily Blackwood, adventuress and plant hunter, travels north for a curious new commission. A gentleman has written to request she catalogue his vast collection of taxidermied creatures before sale.

On arrival, Emily finds a ruined castle, its owner haunted by a woman who vanished five decades before. And when she discovers the ripped pages of a diary, crammed into the walls, she realises dark secrets lie here, waiting to entrap her too…

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MY REVIEW:

“Welcome, dear reader. You have found me, and I you. The diary you hold in your hands is a treasure map. It will lead you to what you ought to seek. Like all such maps, the trail is cryptic. The reason for this is simple. The man I love is trying to kill me.”

Gorgeously gothic, dark and forbidding, The Birdcage Library is an absolute masterpiece. Set in 1930s Scotland, Botanist and Adventuress Emily Blackwood is about to begin a new commission cataloguing the collection of creatures for sale. When she arrives at Castle Parras she finds a remote and ruined place inhabited by a peculiar nonagenarian and haunted by the memory of a woman who disappeared fifty years ago. After finding the pages of an old diary hidden in the walls, Emily sets out to solve the mystery in its pages. But alongside its secrets, a darkness lurks in the crevices of this old castle. Can she discover the truth before it entraps her?

Enthralling, eerie and suspenseful, this had everything I want in a Gothic mystery. This was one of our summer Squadpod Book Club picks so I’m late reading it, but it feels perfect for this time of year. Castle Parras is a cold, uninviting place but it lures you in, tempting you to try and be the one to make it give up its secrets. There’s a hint of malevolence and a nameless dread that hovers over the pages, making tendrils of fear creep up your spine as you read. With her exquisite storytelling and evocative imagery, Freya Berry takes you on a literary treasure hunt that wrenches you out of your own world and into the one she’s created as you try to solve the decades-old mystery. I was utterly captivated, not wanting to put the book down even to sleep as I desperately needed answers. 

“The summer solstice, with its sliver of dark, seemed a strange time of year for a haunting. But perhaps it was not the creatures of night that were most terrifying – at least with those you knew that day would come. Worse, perhaps, were the monsters that rose while the sun was high.”

Emily and Hester were great protagonists. While they lived very different lives fifty years apart there were many similarities between them. Both women are strong yet vulnerable. They are plagued by inner torment, fear, and regret while also possessing a fierce resolve and determination. They are also both surrounded by mystery. For Hester, this is her disappearance, while for Emily it is her past and the secrets she’s keeping from the reader. While you are never completely sure if either woman is a reliable narrator, they are easy to like and I was cheering them on at every step. We can’t talk about the characters without mentioning Heinrich Vogel, Emily’s employer and Hester’s brother-in-law. The nonagenarian is a strange man who gets increasingly creepy as the story goes on. I didn’t trust him or his nephew, Yves, one bit, and was worried for Emily’s safety as she’s trapped in the castle with them.

“The best most of us can hope for is to find comfort in our cages.”

One of the themes running through this book is cages as Berry explores the ways in which they are a metaphor in our lives. She discusses how we can be caged by society, relationships, or even ourselves, vividly capturing how it feels to be trapped in an invisible prison, being desperate to escape but having no idea how to free yourself. She also weaves in literal cages in the form of the castle walls, birdcages and the boxes that hold the various creatures, both alive and dead, adding to the claustrophobic feeling radiating from the pages.

Darkly atmospheric, chilling and immersive, this clever and twisty puzzle gets all the stars. One of my favourite books so far this year, The Birdcage Library is a mesmerising gothic mystery that will haunt you long after reading. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Freya Berry worked as a journalist at Reuters, covering everything from corporate M&A to Brexit. After a stint in New York reporting on the 2016 US election she left to write her first novel, The Dictator’s Wife, published by Headline in 2022. She received a double starred first in English from Trinity College, Cambridge and her writing has appeared in the TLS, the Guardian, the Independent and the Mail Online among others. She also works as an investigative corporate researcher. Her time is split between London and the Welsh coast, where she spends an inadvisable amount of time in the sea.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Watertones* | Amazon* | Bookshop.org*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxx

*These links are affiliate links

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BLOG TOUR: The Figurine by Victoria Hislop

Published September 28th, 2023 by Headline
Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Romance

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Figurine, the enthralling new book from Victoria Hislop. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Headline for the copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

In her irresistible new novel, Sunday Times No 1 bestselling author Victoria Hislop shines a light on the questionable acquisition of cultural treasures and the price people – and countries – will pay to cling on to them.

Of all the ancient art that captures the imagination, none is more appealing than the Cycladic figurine. An air of mystery swirls around these statuettes from the Bronze Age and they are highly sought after by collectors – and looters – alike.

When Helena inherits her grandparents’ apartment in Athens, she is overwhelmed with memories of the summers she spent there as a child, when Greece was under a brutal military dictatorship. Her remote, cruel grandfather was one of the regime’s generals and as she sifts through the dusty rooms, Helena discovers an array of valuable objects and antiquities. How did her grandfather amass such a trove? What human price was paid for them?

Helena’s desire to find answers about her heritage dovetails with a growing curiosity for archaeology, ignited by a summer spent with volunteers on a dig on an Aegean island. Their finds fuel her determination to protect the precious fragments recovered from the baked earth – and to understand the origins of her grandfather’s collection.

Helena’s attempt to make amends for some of her grandfather’s actions sees her wrestle with the meaning of ‘home’, both in relation to looted objects of antiquity … and herself.

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MY REVIEW:

“Beauty has always cast its spell, but down the ages has always driven some to crime.”

Smooth, comforting and utterly glorious, The Figurine is a rich tapestry of a novel. Part historical fiction, part love story, part criminal caper, and part wanderlust adventure, this is an absolute masterpiece. It has a bit of everything: love, lies, family, friendship, secrets, betrayal, greed, corruption, death, and vengeance. Plus some history, Greek mythology and nostalgia is thrown in there too. There’s no denying that at 528 pages this book is a chonker, and I’ll admit,I found it intimidating at first. But I needn’t have worried and flew through it quickly, every page holding my attention hostage as I was educated and enthralled by this epic tale.

“They say Greece was created by the gods. But it’s been ruled by devil’s for the past few years.””

When she is eight-years-old Helena goes to visit her grandparents in their Athens apartment for the first time. It is 1968 and Greece is still under a brutal dictatorship so it is a very different place than she is used to. While her grandmother, Eleni, is kind, Helena finds her grandfather, Stamatis, to be severe and cruel. He is also one of the regime’s generals, and over the course of multiple summer visits, Helena witnesses things her young mind doesn’t yet understand. As she gets older, Helena becomes increasingly inquisitive about her heritage, even spending time volunteering on archeological digs on small Greek islands to connect with her mother’s home country. 

But it is when Helena inherits her grandparents apartment years later that the truth about her family’s past will be revealed. While sorting through her grandparents’ possessions she makes a startling discovery that calls into question how her grandfather amassed the vast array of treasures in his home. Determined to do the right thing, she sets out to discover the true origins of these items and make amends for the sins her grandfather and others have committed. 

“Every object, whether it’s old, new, beautiful or even ugly, has a life. A starting point, a journey, a story. Whatever you want to call it. Some have places where they really belong, which is different from the location where they find themselves.”

This book was literary heaven from beginning to end. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by this author but it has reignited my love of her writing and reminded me why she is still one of my auto-buy authors. Victoria Hislop’s writing is beautiful and evocative, bringing the culture, history and landscape of Greece to life in vivid, meticulously researched detail. The stunning imagery made me feel like I could feel the sun beating down on my skin, see the Acropolis, and taste the bitter coffee. It made me want to immediately book a flight and experience it all for myself – if only my bank account would allow it – *sighs* 

“She found Stamatis Papagiannis quietly sinister, like a dormant volcano. If and when he was going to erupt was unknowable, but the threat felt constant.”

The book contains a cast of detailed and compelling characters that draw you into their lives and make you care about them. Our main character is Helena, and I enjoyed following her for so many years as she grew from little girl to young woman, watching as she faced familiar challenges and experiences such as going to university, falling in love, having your heart broken, and choosing the path you want to take in life. But Helena faces all of these alongside an extraordinary family history that made my heart break for her and her mother. It was a reminder that people who do terrible things have ordinary families who are also affected by their behaviour in many ways. But there were also some really beautiful observations and moments about family relationships in the story. Helena’s parents were great characters and I loved their relationship with Helena. The family trip to Greece was my favourite part of the book and I could have read twice as much of these three together. I also loved Dina, her grandparents’ maid, and the sweet bond she formed with Helena during her summers in Greece. On the opposite end of the spectrum there were some truly vile and evil villains such as Stamis and Arsenis, who turned my stomach every time they were on the page. And then there’s Nick. I couldn’t stand that slimy dirtbag and wanted to shout at Helena to run away from him as she ignored every single red flag he was sending. 

One of the things I love most about reading historical fiction is learning while I read, and I learned a lot while reading this book. I will readily admit that while Greece has long been a country I’m fascinated by and long to visit, I knew nothing about its post-war struggles, civil war and the brutal regime that its people were forced to live under for many years. And while I’d seen Cycladic figurines, I knew very little about them or the illegal trade of priceless artefacts. It is also here that Ms. Hislop’s extensive research shines through, expertly weaving historical fact with fiction to create a truly remarkable story. I was so mesmerised by the topics explored in this book that I’ve been going down rabbit holes googling Greek history, and its ancient artefacts. And after reading small fragments of Medea’s myth, I am bumping up the novel I have about her up my TBR. 

Ambitious, emotional, and utterly gorgeous, The Figurine is a story you won’t be able to put down once you start reading. A must for the TBR of any historical fiction lover.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Victoria Hislop is the international bestselling author of The Island and The Return. In the United Kingdom, she writes travel features for The Sunday Telegraph, The Mail on Sunday, House & Garden, and Woman & Home. The Island sold over a million copies in the UK and has been translated into 24 languages. Victoria’s second novel, The Return, has been published in more than a dozen languages. She lives in Kent, with her husband Ian and their two children.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstone* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

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

*All purchase links are affiliate links

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SQUADPOD REVIEWS: My Legendary Girlfriend by Mike Gayle (25th Anniversary Edition)

Published September 28th, 2023 by Hodder Paperbacks
Romance Novel, Humorous Ficiton, Comedy, Literary Fiction, Lad lit

Happy Publication Day to the 25th Anniversary Edition of My Legendary Girlfriend. Thank you to Alainna at Hodder Books for offering the Squadpod the opportunity to take part in this PR Campaign and for my copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

Celebrate Mike Gayle’s 25th year of publishing with this special anniversary edition of his first ever novel!

Meet Will Kelly. English teacher. Film Fan. Pot Noodle expert. Ex-boyfriend.

Still in love with The One, Will is desperate to discover if there can be An-Other One. In his decrepit flat where he can’t even manage to cook spaghetti hoops without setting off the communal smoke alarm, his lifeline is the telephone. Will realises that with a single call, friends can either lift him from the depths of despair or completely shatter his hopes.

There’s Alice (who remembers his birthday), Simon (who doesn’t), Kate (the previous tenant of his rented hovel). And of course his ex, Aggi. The inimitable Aggi. His legendary Girlfriend.

Or is She?

A hilarious, original story for anyone who has ever been dumped, or lived in a dump, ‘full of belly-laughs and painfully acute observations’. (Independent on Sunday)

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MY REVIEW:

Warm, witty, and heartfelt, My Legendary Girlfriend is a story about life, heartbreak, and unrequited love. It introduces us to Will Kelly, an English teacher whose life isn’t going the way he’d hoped. He’s about to turn 26, totally skint, living in a run-down flat, and still pining after his ex-girlfriend, Aggi. Over the course of a weekend we get to know his deepest, and often darkest, thoughts as he agonises over whether he will ever find a love like he had with his Legendary Girlfriend. 

When Hodder Books offered the Squadpod an exclusive and limited PR run to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Mike Gayle’s debut novel I jumped at the chance to be part of it. I’ve been a huge fan of his books ever since reading All the Lonely People – yes, I know I was late to the party – so I couldn’t wait to finally read the book that started it all. And as with all his books, reading this felt like being wrapped in a warm hug. It envelops you, comforts you and soothes your soul. It is a more melancholy book than any other I’ve read by him yet, but Gayle has a talent for offsetting the more serious and sombre elements of a story with dry, dark humour that lightens the mood.

So, we need to talk about Will. Lovestruck doesn’t quite cover the way he is about Aggi. Totally and utterly obsessed is better. Look, we’ve all had that relationship that’s hard to get over, where you were sure they were The One, but they didn’t agree and ripped your heart out, but to be this obsessed after three years seemed quite ridiculous. And that pedestal he’d got her on was so high I’m surprised she didn’t get dizzy. I wanted to grab hold of him, shake him, and tell him to get a bloody grip! But love isn’t rational, is it? So I did have some sympathy for him. Not that he made it easy. Because this guy wasn’t likeable most of the time. He was self-centred, moody, pessimistic, and his outlook was as bleak as the flat he lived in. Everything revolved around him and his feelings, and he certainly made sure everyone knew about them. But yet there’s something about him that is still engaging, making you keep reading and not quite give up on him, even if you’re shouting at him in your head the whole time. 

My favourite aspect of this book is the phone calls. Much of the story takes place during conversations Will has with various people over the phone that weekend. These calls are a lifeline for Will and he recognises that a single call has the power to shift his entire mood depending on who is calling. These calls were often hilarious and provided a lot of levity in the book, as well as introducing us to some really great secondary characters such as Alice and Kate. They also provided a lot of the book’s nostalgia, reminding me of when I would spend hours on the phone talking to friends or loved ones. And, for me, the nostalgia was something I loved about this book. In 1998 we still had landlines, answering machines, video players, and the speaking clock. It was like being transported to my past and contributed to the sense of comfort I felt while reading. 

An enjoyable and funny read with an ending I really loved, I would recommend this book. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Mike Gayle was born and raised in Birmingham. After graduating from Salford University with a degree in Sociology Mike moved to London with ambitions of becoming a music journalist. This didn’t happen however and following a slight detour in his five-year plan he ended up as an agony uncle for teenage girls’ magazine Bliss before becoming Features Editor on the now much missed Just Seventeen. Since those early days Mike has written for a variety of publications including The Sunday Times, The Guardian and Cosmopolitan.

Mike became a full time novelist in 1997 following the publication of his Sunday Times top ten bestseller My Legendary Girlfriend, which was hailed by The Independent as ‘Full of belly laughs and painfully acute observations,’ and by The Times as ‘A funny, frank account of a hopeless romantic.’

To date Mike is the author of twelve novels including Mr Commitment, Turning Thirty and Wish You Were Here. His books have been translated into over thirty languages.

You can read more about Mike’s books here.

After stints in Manchester and London Mike now lives in Birmingham with his wife, kids, two sheds and a rabbit.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Amazon*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

*These purchase links are affiliate links

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2023

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara

Published May 25th, 2023 by Orion
Mythology, Fantasy Fiction, Greek Mythology, Fairy Tales, Hiistorical Romance, Ancient History, Literary Fiction

Today I’m finally sharing my full review for Psyche and Eros. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Orion for the copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘A riotous adventure, populated by a cast of vivid, glittering characters. An absolute joy!’ JENNIFER SAINT

‘A fabulously entertaining retelling, full of magic, humour and heart’ ELODIE HARPER

A stunning, exciting and hotly-anticipated feminist retelling of one of the greatest love stories in Greek mythology!

The greatest love story ever told…

Born into an era of heroes, a prophecy claims that Psyche – Princess of Mycenae – will defeat a monster feared even by the gods themselves. Rebelling against society’s traditions, she spends her youth mastering blade and bow, preparing to fulfil her destiny.

But she is soon caught up in powers beyond her control, when the jealous Aphrodite sends the God of Desire, Eros, to deliver a fatal love-curse. The last thing Eros wants is to become involved in the chaos of the mortal world, but when he is pricked by the very arrow intended for Psyche, he is doomed to love a woman who will be torn from him the moment their eyes meet.

Thrown together by fate, headstrong Psyche and world-weary Eros will face challenges greater than they could have ever imagined. And as the Trojan War begins and the whole of the heavens try to keep them apart, will they find their way back to each other… before it’s too late?

Luna McNamara’s exquisitely written debut will appeal to fans of Madeline Miller, Jennifer Saint and Susan Stokes-Chapman.

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MY REVIEW:

“There is something powerful in this, I think. We were not in thrall to destiny or fate, but merely the weight of our own choices. When we turned towards each other like flowers facing the sun, we were not fulfilling some prophecy or old story. We were writing our own.”

Alluring, evocative and exhilarating, Psyche and Eros is a feisty feminist retelling of one of Greek Mythology’s greatest love stories. Psyche – Princess of Mycenae – is prophesied to slay a monster even the gods fear. She rebels societal traditions to train as a warrior in preparation for fulfilling her destiny. Eros – God of Desire – is sent by Aphrodite to deliver a fatal love-curse to Psyche in an act of revenge. But when he is pricked by the arrow meant for her, he falls madly in love. Cursed to be torn from each other should their eyes ever meet, their love seems doomed from the start. Can they   overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in their way to find a happy ending together?

As a fan of Greek mythology retellings and a sucker for a gorgeous cover, I was excited to read this one. I went into this one blind and was unfamiliar with Psyche and Eros’ story. But I was soon transfixed as debut author Luna McNamara’s gorgeous storytelling transported me across the ocean and back in time to their world. These vividly drawn, star-crossed lovers are fascinating characters, and by telling the story from both perspectives, McNamara allows us to really get inside the hearts and minds of both characters as well as allowing us to see the broader picture, rather than a skewed, one-sided version of the tale. Psyche is  fiery, gutsy, headstrong and determined while Eros is disenchanted, jaded and often seems melancholy, especially before meeting Psyche. I felt for Eros as he grappled with how he could be with her without the curse taking hold but I had even more empathy for this girl who was taken away from all she knew without warning. The tension escalated as they became closer and I was on tenterhooks as I waited to discover if they could overcome the obstacles in their path.

“I had long noticed that the stories of heroes were mainly about men, Atalanta being one of the rare exceptions. Women when they had roles to play at all, appeared only as mothers or lovers or sometimes monsters.”

McNamara also explores how women were second class citizens and the lack of agency they had at this time. Not only were girls not educated or trained to be heroes like their boys were, but they were viewed as best silent and only useful for sex, bearing children, and cleaning. Psyche recognises this as an obstacle in fulfilling the prophecy and is also concerned that she will soon be expected to become a meek and obedient wife to a stranger rather than the hero she dreams of becoming. I am loving the current trend of feminist retellings of mythology as it is finally giving these women their time to shine and ensuring their place in legend just like their male counterparts.

Intoxicating, fierce, and enthralling, Psyche and Eros is a sensational debut and must-have addition for your Greek Mythology shelf. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:


Luna McNamara is a social worker by day, and by night she writes about historical women and forgotten gods.

Luna holds a master’s degree from Harvard University in the study of women and gender in world religions; she has also studied ancient Greek language and philosophy. She lives in Boston with her faithful lop rabbit, Leo. 

Her first novel, Psyche & Eros, will be released May 25th 2023 by Orion Books in the UK, and June 13th 2023 by HarperCollins in the US.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Amazon* | Bookshop.org*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

*All these links are affiliate links

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Over My Dead Body by Maz Evans

Published August 3rd, 2023 by Headline
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Police Procedural, Literary Fiction

Thank you Headline for my proof copy of this book.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘Laugh-out-loud hilarious, moving and life affirming. How can one book be so many things? I couldn’t put this fabulous, first class, five star read down.’ JANICE HALLETT
‘Thoroughly wicked, compulsively page-turning, and funny as hell.’ S J BENNETT
‘Warm, wacky and witty. I loved it!’ SALLY PAGE

Hello? Can you hear me? Probably not. I’m Dr Miriam Price . . . and I’m dead.
The local police, who couldn’t investigate their own nostrils, think I drank myself into an early grave. The nerve! I was murdered. I was just too plastered to know whodunnit, that’s all.

Unless I prove to my inquest this week that my death was no ‘misadventure’, I’m condemned to 50 years in Limbo. I have to find my killer – but I can’t communicate with any living human. Well, there’s one, but she barely qualifies . . . Winnie – my neighbour and nemesis. It seems the dying can interact with the dead, which is helpful news for me, if not stellar for Winnie. Oh well. She’ll live. Maybe.

Suspects? How long have you got? My saintly husband, who’d reached his limit? My best friend, who was anything but? My secret lover, or his wife? My disgruntled colleague? The mother who wrongly holds me responsible for her child’s death? Professor Plum? Your guess is as good as mine.

So Winnie – slap on your deerstalker and strap on your granny pants. Let’s catch a killer! Assuming we don’t kill each other first . . .

‘Sometimes a book comes along that reminds you why you fell in love with reading. Imaginative, witty and original…an absolute joy!’ WOMAN & HOME
‘Clever, wise and properly funny. An absolute triumph.’ LUCY MANGAN
‘Hilarious…a fab whodunnit with brilliant characters. A gleeful read!’ TINA BAKER

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MY REVIEW:

Dr. Miriam Price is dead. Murdered, to be precise. But her killer staged the scene so her death looks set to be ruled an overdose, leaving her just a few days to expose her killer so she isn’t left in Limbo for the next fifty years. Unfortunately, Miriam was too wasted to remember her killer’s identity, so she’s forced to beg for help from her arch-enemy and neighbour, Winnie. Can they put their rivalry aside and find her killer in time?

Over My Dead Body is the funniest book I’ve read in a long time. Laugh-out-loud funny, sassy, and unputdownable, reading this was like a big, warm hug. I picked it up for a rare mood read after it was highly recommended to me and it was exactly what I didn’t know I needed. It’s one of those books that you know you’re going to love from the first page and I devoured it, reading most of it in one sitting into the early hours. I’m thankful my husband is such a deep sleeper as there were many times I was worried my laughter would wake him. 

Miriam is the anti-hero you’re going to love. Spunky, sarcastic, and scathing, she’s a trainwreck who would be a nightmare to know in real life, but was so much fun to read. I loved how she spoke directly to the reader throughout the book, drawing me in and making me feel like part of the story. Her curmudgeonly nemesis, Winnie, is feisty, caustic and outrageous. And she was a joy to read. I loved the tales of their long-standing feud, their witty banter, and how they found a way around the loathing they had for one another to try and find Miriam’s killer. Winnie stole many scenes and wouldn’t have been out of place in Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club. She’s the kind of old lady I’d love to be one day – if only I could have her energy. 

Maz Evans is a master storyteller. This is a story that could have easily descended into the ridiculous but instead Evans has crafted a story that is comedy gold and full of heart. She makes you believe the most outlandish parts and had me rooting  for the characters every step of the way. She pulled me in from the first page and I was on tenterhooks as I tried to solve the clues and predict the many twists and turns along the way. 

Original, uplifting, and freaking hilarious, this  Over My Dead Body is one of my favourite books this year. Everyone needs to read this book ASAP.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Still unsure how it happened, Maz Evans is apparently the author of the bestselling WHO LET THE GODS OUT?, VI SPY and SCARLETT FIFE series, which have collectively sold over half a million copies to 22 countries worldwide. They have received over 30 award nominations, including the Carnegie Medal, Branford Boase, Books Are My Bag, Waterstone’s Children’s Book of the Year, Indie Children’s Book of the Year and CrimeFest Best Children’s Book.

She narrates the audiobooks for the series and her acclaimed live events have featured at Hay, Imagine, Edinburgh, Bath, Cheltenham, Bestival, Wilderness, CarFest and countless literary festivals and primary schools around the UK.

As an author, she has won the hearts of thousands of children. As a nuclear physicist, she has frankly been completely rubbish.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

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BLOG TOUR: Farewell to the Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez

Published August 3rd, 2023 by Sphere
Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, War Story

Today I’m delighted to be closing the tour for this uplifting novel. Thank you to Lucy at Sphere for the invitation to take part and the gifted copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

THE LONG-AWAITED SEQUEL TO THE LITTLE COFFEE SHOP OF KABUL, THE BESTSELLER THAT CAPTURED THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS WORLDWIDE

Kabul, August 2021

Sunny Tedder is back in her beloved coffee shop. After eight years away, she’s thrilled to reunite with her Kabul ‘family’:

Yazmina now runs a pair of women’s shelters from the old cafe, and dreams of a bright future for her two young daughters.

Her sister Layla has become an outspoken women’s rights activist and, thanks to social media, is quite the celebrity.

Kat, Sunny’s friend from America, is wrapping up her year-long stay in the land of her birth, but is facing some unfinished business.

And finally there’s elderly den mother Halajan, whose secret new hobby is itself an act of rebellion.

Then the US troops begin to withdraw – and the women watch in horror as the Taliban advance on the capital at ferocious speed…

Set against the terrifying fall of Kabul in 2021, Deborah Rodriguez concludes her bestselling Little Coffee Shop trilogy with a heart-stopping story of resilience, courage and, most importantly, hope.

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MY REVIEW:

“And there it was. The turquoise gate, that crazy wall. The little coffee shop of Kabul. Sunny was home.” 

We’re back at the little coffee shop of Kabul for the concluding instalment of this heartwarming series.  Sunny is thrilled to reunite with her ‘Kabul family’ and be back at her beloved coffee shop after eight years away. But much has changed since her last visit, and with US troops about to withdraw from Afghanistan, Sunny is worried for the safety of her friends, but they dismiss her concerns, sure that the Taliban won’t regain control. But Sunny’s greatest fears are realised as the Taliban once again take control of the city. The race is on for Sunny to get herself and her friends out of Kabul to safety. 

This is a story of love, friendship, courage, survival, and hope that will remind you that light can be found even in the darkest of times. I read The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul when it was first released and couldn’t wait to immerse myself in the world of these characters. And though it had been over a decade since then, I soon felt like I was back with old friends as the author succinctly catches the reader up on events. And it’s those wonderful characters who are the beating heart of this series. The deep bonds and compelling personalities of this eclectic group leap from the page, with Layla and Halajan shining particularly brightly for me.

“We have lived with the sharks circling for twenty years now, yet still we stand strong. It will be fine. We will be fine.”

I’ll admit, I only knew a little about the fall of Kabul in 2021, which is the time this story is set. But Rodriguez sets the scene for the reader, detailing their culture and social expectations and evocatively illustrating a city where life is lived on a knife-edge. We see the reality of inhabiting a place filled with unrest, where women are still forced to walk a careful tightrope every day. It was eye-opening and heart-wrenching, particularly when every hard-won freedom is lost in the instant the Taliban regains power. I could feel the anxiety, fear and despair radiating from every word, my heart pounding as I desperately hoped for an escape for them. It is exquisitely written, never losing its potency or the heart and humour that is woven into the darker moments. 

A comforting, uplifting and moving read that you won’t want to put down, Farewell to the Little Coffee Shop of Kabul is a must read. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Deborah Rodriguez spent five years teaching at and later directing the Kabul Beauty School, the first modern beauty academy and training salon in Afghanistan. Rodriguez also owned the Cabul Coffee House. She is now a hairdresser, a motivational speaker, and the author of the bestselling novel The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul. Deborah currently lives in Mexico where she owns the Tippy Toes Salon.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Amazon* | Bookshop.org*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxxx

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

*All Purchase links are affiliate links

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SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB REVIEW: This Family by Kate Sawyer

Published May 11th, 2023 by Coronet
Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Domestic Fiction

Welcome to my review of This Family, the enthralling literary masterpiece that was the Squadpod Book Club pick for May.

Thank you to Coronet for the gifted proof copy.

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SYNOPSIS:
An ambitious new novel of family life past and present from the author of the Costa Book Awards shortlisted The Stranding.

‘A smart yet tender page-turner. Kate Sawyer makes the reader feel as though they have a seat at the family table.’ ERIN KELLY

‘A tender yet vivid novel in both form and voice, its threads as bright as the tapestry of life it depicts. I lived, laughed and ached for these characters throughout. A superb accomplishment.’ WIZ WHARTON

‘Feels like the ultimate eavesdropping exercise, it’s satisfying fresh and expertly structured. The penultimate chapter will make you shriek. I loved it.’ ALEXANDRA HEMINSLEY

‘Lyrical, literary and luminous … buy it and treat yourself to writing at its finest.’ BETHANY CLIFT

‘Perfection. Funny and powerful, deeply moving, hugely atmospheric.’ LIZ HYDER

‘Every nuance of mother and daughters and sister relationships is vividly explored. Beautifully written, it expertly weaves the past with the present, building the tension, so you have to turn the pages.’ GEORGINA MOORE

‘Unfolds like a great piece of theatre… The more I read, the harder it became to put down.’ BOBBY PALMER

‘Fans of The Stranding, rest assured–This Family is every bit as good and then some. An absolute treat from start to finish.’ NATASHA CALDER

‘The vibrant, complex members of This Family are still alive and well in my imagination, weeks after I finished reading it. The rich, precise prose drew me into their world and held me there from beginning to end.’ JO BROWNING WROE
___________

It is my dearest wish, that after so long apart, I am able to bring this family together for my wedding day.

This house. This family.

Mary has raised a family in this house. Watched her children play and laugh and bicker in this house. Today she is getting married in this house, with all her family in attendance.

The wedding celebrations have brought fractured family together for the first time in years: there’s Phoebe and her husband Michael, children in tow. The young and sensitive Rosie, with her new partner. Irene, Mary’s ex-mother-in-law. Even Emma, Mary’s eldest, is back for the wedding – despite being at odds with everyone else.

Set over the course of an English summer’s day but punctuated with memories from the past forty years of love and loss, hope and joy, heartbreak and grief, this is the story of a family. Told by a chorus of characters, it is an exploration of the small moments that bring us to where we are, the changes that are brought about by time, and what, despite everything, stays the same.

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MY REVIEW:

“It is my dearest wish that after so long apart, I am able to bring this family back together for my wedding day.
I don’t think it’s my way to ask much of others, but now I am asking each of you to give me one day where you leave any animosity at the gate and try to remember that you love each other.”

Enchanting, moving and achingly real, This Family is another literary masterpiece from Kate Sawyer. This family saga is told over the course of a late summer’s day and peppered with flashbacks that illustrate their history and the animosity, discord and anger that lingers between them. Can they put their bad blood aside for this one day? Or will their deep wounds rise to the surface and bubble over in a blaze of fury and resentment? 

“It’s a new beginning. 
She should be happy.
And she is. She is.
But where there are new beginnings, there are always endings too.”

What a magnificent book! Kate Sawyere’s debut, The Stranding, was one of my favourite books of 2021 so I was highly anticipating her sophomore novel. And there is no second book syndrome in sight as Sawyer once again showcases her remarkable storytelling in this beautifully written story. A character study and exploration of life and family, Sawyer draws you into the lives of this fractured family with her eloquent and evocative writing. It is an emotional story, but not too heavy or melancholy thanks to the sprinkling of witty observations about life, parenthood and family that lighten the mood. I was lost in the pages, completely immersed in their world, and was sad to say goodbye to them when I reached the final page.

“She had been braced for a certain amount of nostalgia this weekend. It’s only to be expected that being back in your childhood home, saying farewell to all the nooks and crannies of the place where you became the person you are, is always going to invoke memories. She just hadn’t been prepared for which memories they might be, and how, remembering those memories, would feel like living it all over again.”

Told from multiple points of view, it follows four generations of one family as they come together for a wedding. This will be the first time they are all together since unknown events fractured them into pieces, but sisters Emma, Phoebe, and Rosie have agreed to put their own feelings aside for their mother Mary’s special day. But the pain runs deep between them, and they are unprepared for some of the feelings that arise when they see one another for the first time in years. This novel perfectly encapsulates the essence of family life with all of its messiness, drama, pain, and complex relationships. This is a family that is broken and we see how tensions run even higher during claustrophobic and anxiety-laden situations such as a wedding. The characters are all richly drawn, compelling, flawed and relatable. I had a particular affinity for Mary, who is a kind, selfless woman that has always given her all to her family, even raising  the child her husband had with his mistress after her death. I think a lot of this affinity stemmed from having raised children from two families in a blended household myself, as well as the fact that my children are now grown and I’ve just had my second wedding. I also really enjoyed Irene, the cantankerous mother of Mary’s ex-husband Richard and the delightful Rosie, who was the only sister talking to everyone. 

A truly decadent read that is atmospheric, stirring, insightful, nuanced and enthralling, This Family is an absolute must-read from a literary star. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

TW: Infertility and grief.

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kate was born in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK where she grew up in the countryside as the eldest of four siblings, after briefly living with her parents in Qatar and the Netherlands.

Kate Sawyer worked as an actor and producer before turning her hand to fiction. She has previously written for theatre and short-film. Kate’s first novel The Stranding was published by Coronet in 2021 and was listed for the Costa First Novel Award.

Having lived in South London for the best part of two decades with brief stints in the Australia and the USA she recently returned to East Anglia to have her first child as a solo mother by choice.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones | Amazon | Bookshop.org

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxxx

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: The Funeral Cryer by Wenyan Lu

Published May 4th, 2023 by Allen & Unwin
Literary Fiction, Humorous Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the beautiful and moving, The Funeral Cryer. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part, and Allen & Unwin for the gifted copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

***’A refreshing perspective on mourning, as well as a moving tale of a social outcast’ – i-D Magazine***

An Yu’s Braised Pork meets Flaubert’s Madame Bovary in this unforgettable, tragi-comic tale of one woman’s mid-life re-awakening in contemporary rural China.

The Funeral Cryer long ago accepted the mundane realities of her life: avoided by fellow villagers because of the stigma attached to her job as a professional mourner and under-appreciated by The Husband, whose fecklessness has pushed the couple close to the brink of break-up. But just when things couldn’t be bleaker, The Funeral Cryer takes a leap of faith – and in so doing things start to take a surprising turn for the better . . .

Dark, moving and wry, The Funeral Cryer is both an illuminating depiction of a ‘left behind’ society – and proof that it’s never too late to change your life.

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MY REVIEW:

“I almost live in isolation, with very little movement. Sometimes I was even suspicious of myself. Was I really carrying something contagious or lethal in my body? Maybe I was. I did breathe in a deadly atmosphere regularly at funerals.”

The Funeral Cryer isn’t an easy book to review. A truly unique story, this touching exploration of identity, mourning and social isolation follows the mid-life awakening of one woman in contemporary rural China.

Living in a loveless, unhappy marriage, the funeral cryer is resigned to her mundane life in the small village where she was born and raised. A good husband is one who doesn’t hit you, which hers doesn’t, but he also never speaks a kind word and they are just two people who sleep in the same bed each night rather than partners or friends. It is a lonely and bleak existence, something that is magnified by the superstition surrounding her profession that makes her an outcast. We never learn the funeral cryer’s name. In fact, she isn’t even sure the others in her village even remember it as they now only refer to her as that woman who cries at funerals. This namelessness adds to the sense of a lack of identity and belonging surrounding her, and makes her feel all the more distant and disconnected from both the reader and the world. It is a life filled with sadness, guilt and isolation, emotions that permeate the pages along with an atmosphere of melancholy, monotony and acceptance as she  evaluates and looks back on her life, wondering how things might be now had she taken different paths and contemplating an array of questions she has no one to answer. 

From the start this story avoids feeling overshadowed by any of its sombre or negative emotions thanks to Wenyan Lu’s exquisite and at times almost poetic prose. It is also helped by the narration continuously and seamlessly moving between a tale of heartrending tragedy and dark comedy as the funeral cryer finally makes choices for her own happiness and begins her reawakening. I was rooting for her to seize something for herself and rejoiced as she discovered parts of life, and herself, that had lain dormant for so long.

Profoundly moving, wistful and thought-provoking, The Funeral Cryer is a curiously beautiful story that will linger long after reading.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✫

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Originally from Shanghai, China, Wenyan Lu is the winner of the SI Leeds Literary Prize 2020. She holds a Master of Studies in Creative Writing as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching Creative Writing from the University of Cambridge. Her unpublished historical novel The Martyr’s Hymn was also longlisted for SI Leeds Literary Prize 2018 and Bridport First Novel Prize 2019.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Watertones | Amazon | Bookshop.org

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

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

*All purchase links are affiliate links

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REVIEW: So Close by Sylvia Day

Published: March 30th, 2023
Publisher: Michael Joseph
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Contemporary Romance, Gothic Fiction, Literary Fiction, Urban Fiction, Book Series
Format: Hardcover, Kindle, Audiobook

Welcome to my review of So Close, the sultry, spicy and consuming first part of the new Blacklist Duology by Sylvia Day which the Squadpod is featuring this month.

Thank you to edPR and Michael Joseph for the gifted copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

From the No 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Crossfire saga comes the beginning of a twisty tale of obsession and fury, as a trinity of women protect what they covet at any cost.

You can’t believe all of them . . . But can you trust any of them?
___________

Widower Kane Black has been hollowed by grief.

Until he sees a woman with his wife Lily’s inimitable beauty on Manhattan’s streets. He whisks her up to his towering penthouse, nestling her in dark opulence.

Aliyah, Kane’s mother, sees a threat. “Lily” has dangerous control over Kane and there can be only one queen on this throne.

Amy, Kane’s sister-in-law, has been bloodied by betrayal. She’s paid too high a price and now intends to claim what she’s owed.

Three women, linked by buried secrets, circle the man who unquestioningly accepts the return of his beloved long-dead wife.

But Kane is happier than he’s ever been, and he’ll do anything to stay that way . . .
___________

A lushly gothic novel of domestic suspense, So Close is an emotionally intense and addictive story of love, greed and ambition from multimillion-copy international bestseller Sylvia Day.

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MY REVIEW:

“What a pair we are, intrinsically broken but tied to one another by desire and death.” 

Whew! Scorching, sultry and intense, So Close not only had me hot under the collar, but kept me on the edge of my seat as I read this gripping story of obsession, secrets, rage, greed and revenge.

Kane Black is a man used to getting what he wants. A powerful, rich businessman with the looks of a Greek god, he has the best that money can buy and women falling at his feet. But Kane’s life was torpedoed by grief six years ago when his beloved wife Lily disappeared following a sailing accident, and he’s never been the same.
Then, one day, he sees a woman who looks remarkably like his late wife on the streets of Manhattan. After the woman is injured in a hit and run, he whisks her to his opulent penthouse to recover. But although the woman looks identical to Lily, including the same distinctive tattoo, she has no memory of their marriage or where she’s been for the last six years. Kane is sure that his beloved wife is back from the dead, but those around him aren’t so sure. His devoted assistant, Witte, is worried this is a masquerade to swindle his employer, and Kane’s dysfunctional family see her as a threat to their carefully laid plans, sparking a battle for control that some might not survive…

“I’ve stepped into the shoes of a ghost, a woman whose memory, style and tastes have spread malignantly through your life, completely subsuming the man you once were.”

Sensual, spicy and alluring, this is one of those books I’d think twice about reading in public for fear of blushing. It was my first time reading one of Sylvia Day’s books and I am so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone for this one. I’d heard so many friends rave about this author and knew that reading books I didn’t think I’d like has led me to discover some of my now-favourite books – hello ACOTAR and Beautiful Shining People – so I decided to give it a try. It was nothing like I expected, but in all the best ways. Mysterious and powerful, this was a real page-turner. The narrative is darkly atmospheric; the air thick with sexual tension, mistrust and suspense, and there is an ominous drumbeat that rings in your ears as you read. I also liked that the book is well written and the spicy parts didn’t make me totally cringe as it’s badly written sex scenes and a lack of story surrounding them that have put me off erotica. This one certainly doesn’t suffer from a lack of story and is bursting at the seams with intriguing storylines that keep the reader guessing. As the author teases us, playing psychological mind games with each new chapter, I found myself questioning everyone and everything right up until the final page and was then left hungry for more.

“Who manufactured the myth of family being those who will love and protect you at any cost? Why are we told to forgive toxic behaviour only because of genetics? …I don’t know how or why you’ve ended up back in the nest with these vipers, but they’ll have to get through me to sink their fangs into you.” 

Ms. Day has filled her book with characters who are ruthless, vile, and morally grey. They are unlikable yet utterly compelling and fun to read. This is a family that is not only dysfunctional and toxic, but also scheming and power-hungry, always plotting against one another and playing games. Certainly not a group you’d want to be part of. Matriarch Aliyah was probably my least favourite while I kind of liked Witte, Kane’s loyal majordomo. Kane Black himself doesn’t narrate the story, yet he is at its heart and is the obsession of each of the narrators. And while Kane is just as cut-throat, calculated and shifty as the rest of them, yet his charisma makes him that little bit more likeable. And then there is Lily. Elusive, cryptic and beguiling, it seems no one is immune to her allure. But is she really back from the dead or an opportunist and imposter? I vacillated between the two possibilities for the whole book, the seeds of doubt woven into the narrative making it impossible to decide. 

Intoxicating, consuming, and undeniably sexy, So Close will leave you breathless. And that ending! I need book two now. Why is October so far away?!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sylvia June Day is the #1 New York Times, No. 1 Sunday Times & internationally bestselling author of over twenty award-winning novels, including ten New York Times bestsellers and thirteen USA Today bestsellers. She is a number one bestselling author in twenty-nine countries, with translations in forty-one languages and over twenty million copies of her books in print.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones | Amazon | Bookshop.org

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxx

*All purchase links are affiliate links