#144 Youll be the death of me

 You'll Be The Death Of Me by Karen M. McManus 

Sorry i have been so MIA both on my blog and Twitter, i started my dream job in September and its been a massive adjustment with very little left for blogging never mind a social life! Things will hopefully settle down in the new year and i got start creating some content on here again! (fingers crossed)

So todays post is for 'You'll Be The Death Of Me' by the amazing Karen M. McManus, i was thrilled to receive an e-arc from Penguin organised by the ever amazing Dave (@TheWriteReads), sorry my post is 2 days late, i did start the book a week ago but work kept getting in the way! 

The book follows three main characters, Ivy, Cal and Mateo and it starts off very much like Ferris Buellers Day Off. Three childhood friends who drifted apart when they started high school are accidentally thrown together in unlikely circumstances and decide to skip school for the day, all is going well if a little bit awkward until they stumble upon a crime scene. When the victim turns out to be a classmate they flee and try to figure out how and what happened. 

Ivy comes from a well to do family but struggles under the pressure of living up to her genius brother. She has spent years struggling under the pressure of doing everything perfectly whilst her brother naturally excels at everything he does. I found Ivy as a character to be the very epitomy of a teenage girl, shes struggling to keep up academically and when she loses her three year in a row class presidency to a kid that really doesnt seem to care she loses it all together and decides that skipping school is a good idea. I wonder how different her story would have turned out if she had only sucked it up and went to school that day.

Mateo was raised by a single mum, when his mum is diagnosed with a joint disorder in the same week she loses her bowling alley business that she built from the ground Mateo has to step it up alongside his cousin Autumn who was taken in when her parents died in a car accident. They work 5 jobs between them to make ends meet and to pay for the medicine that their mum needs. Mateo was a complex character, probably my favourite of the 3 but he wasnt without his flaws either which made him a lot more believeable. 

Cal was probably the least developed of the 3 main characters. From the beginning he is harboring a secret that may or may not be linked to the crime scene them stumble upon. I feel like even though i just finished this book i remember very little about Cal or his home life, not sure if thats a me problem or a book problem! 

I really enjoyed how this story becomes a journey of how 3 friends need to figure out what is happening before someone else they know is killed. It was fast paced and i know if i had had more time i would have flew through this in probably one sitting! I enjoyed this just as much as McManus' other books and i absolutely adore her story telling style, she has definitely become an auto buy author for me and one i find myself always recommending to other people.

Thank you again to the publishers and to Dave for the awesome blog tour and opportunity to read this book! 

#143 A Woman is no Man

 A Woman Is No Man By Etaf Rum

One of my favourite books that ive read in 2021! A Woman is no Man is a story following three generations of Palestinian women in two timelines, one is palestine in the 1990's and the other is Brooklyn in 2008. The books main focus is on these women living in modern day America whilst trying to uphold their Palestinian values. We follow Isra in 1990 Palestine and then her eldest daughter Deya in 2008 Brooklyn, we also get input from Isra's mother in law Fareeda so there are lots of perspectives on how a woman should be within this one tiny snapshot of family life. 

At the beginning of the story we learn that Isra and her husband Adam have both died in what Deya has been told was an accident by Fareeda. I found Fareeda as a character to be highly frustrating, her choices are highly questionable but as the story unfolds and we learn more about her you can see how she has become the woman she is, she was a well fleshed out character and i often wondered if the author had based her on someone in her life as she was so raw, flawed but most of all real. For me the main reason i gave this book 5 stars was purely down to the character building, we learn so much from each of the characters and we root for them all in such different ways. I found myself rooting for Deya and wanting her to get out and to escape the restrains laid upon her by her culture and family expectation. 

Adam was a very conflicting character for me, he does a lot of very wrong things and makes a lot of bad decisions but on the other hand we can see the enormous pressure placed on him by being the eldest son and the pressure for him to provide for his family whilst also looking after his parents and helping them out as much as possible, this was his demise really and what ultimately broke him. I spent the majority of the story hating him but parts of me did feel for him also. Adam was just as trapped as some of the female characters in this story. 

Isra was my favourite character, from the beginning she is destined to marry Adam and to move to Brooklyn. Isra believes that this is her golden ticket almost and when she arrives in America she is shocked to see that she will be staying in a window-less basement in the bottom floor of her in-laws home whilst her husband works long hours. Isra is very unfamiliar with how things work in America and has to rely on her husband to get around if and when he deems it appropriate for her to leave the house. Adam is receiving a lot of pressure from his parents to produce a grandson as soon as possible, after a string of pregnancies Isra ends up only having girls. I found this part to be really hard to read, each pregnancy Isra is praying for a boy just to placate her husband and in laws and she is terrified of his reaction each time she gives birth and its another girl. In this culture Isra isnt allowed to breastfeed her babies in the hope that she will become pregnant again quickly. It was in equal parts frustrating and sad to read. 

Deya is Isra and Adams eldest child and at the beginning she is living with her grandparents and they are raising her and her sisters in the same way that their father was raised, strictly and conservatively following in line with their Palestinian culture. Deya does not wish to be married off at a young age and wants more for herself and her sisters but at the same time is worried about the implications of straying would be and if she could survive on her own. When a stranger reaches out with information about her late mother Deya realises that unlocking secrets of the past can possibly help her make decisions in regards to her future. 

The author has described this book as strength and resilience of women which is the perfect summary in my eyes. This book was really eye opening to me in terms of learning about a different culture and i really immersed myself in that aspect of it. At the same time i realise that i read this book through very western eyes and that it was very easy for me to question why these women made the choices they did and especially why Isra didnt fight harder to get out and escape the cycle of abuse. Its very easy to make snap judgements on someone elses culture when you dont understand. Arab-American culture is so under represented in modern fiction but upon watching a wonderful interview with the author she makes a point to say that this book is not relective of all Arabs nor is it a reflection upon Islam. This book is simply following the story of one conservative Arab family. 

The ending of this book blew me away, i cant remember the last time that I couldnt put a book down before this one. I dont want to say too much in order to keep this review as spoiler free as possible but all i will say is that this book will stay with me for a long time, will be a book that i purchase for others and one that i am sure i will reread many times. I couldnt put this book down, it was honestly an absolute triumph! I would urge every lover of fiction to pick this book up! If i could scream about this book from the rooftops i would. PLEASE JUST READ IT!!! :D 

#142 Such a Fun Age

 Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid 

Such a Fun Age follows the story of a 25 year old black woman called Emira, she is hired as a babysitter for a middle class couple and looks after their 2/3 year old daughter Briar. One night Alix who is Emira's employer calls Emira for some last minute baby sitting whilst the couple deal with an emergency at their home. Emira takes Briar to a local supermarket/grocery store and whilst the 2 are in the store the security guard has been alerted by a fellow shopper that they believe Emira has kidnapped Briar, this turns into a confrontation between the security guard and Emira that is caught on video by another shopper. Emira has to call Alix's husband to come down to the store as the police have been called and no one seems to believe Emira's version of events. This scene is the opening of the book and plays a very powerful role in the themes throughout the book but the story is about so much more than this one single instance. 

The chapters are split into POV's from Emira and Alix. Emira as a character was so relatable, her life has lost direction after finishing college and shes not quite sure what she should be doing next. When she is offered the role of being Briar's babysitter she just views it as a job and a way to make money but she soon falls in love with Briar and looks forward to spending time with her. I really enjoyed Emira's chapers much more than Alix's but i understand as a reader why it was important for them to be written in this way as both POV's are highly necessary for the overriding story. Alix works as an influencer and has 2 daughters, Briar is her eldest and she also has a baby too. Emira is hired solely to take care of 'spirited' Briar. Alix's husband is a news anchor and towards the beginning of the story he accidentally says something racist whilst on air which is another theme that influences the rest of the story. Alix takes on a very much 'white saviour' role in this story, her entitlement and privilige made for a very contrasting POV. At the beginning i was very willing to give Alix the benefit of the doubt but as the story went on i just lost more and more respect for her. I think Alix is so hyper aware of being perceived as racist that she almost does too much and winds up on the racism spectrum regardless. Parts of this were painful to read. 

This book is not what i was expecting at all, it was much more of a coming of age story than i thought it would be. Emira's character growth was done so well, i loved how all of Emira's friends seem to have their careers and lives figured out and are so much more financially stable than Emira and even though Emira enjoys her babysitting role she cant help but feel that she should have something more concrete in place. There is a romance throughout but it wasnt a very big part of the story overall. As a result of the grocery store incident Alix begins taking more of an interest in Emira and becomes almost obsessed by cyber stalking her and checking her phone when Emira leaves it to charge whilst shes at work. 

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was simple and a lot less literary than i was expecting from a Booker Prize Longlist contender. The writing is so clever and witty, i couldnt get enough of it and it kept me turning the pages. All the characters read as very real people and the story was accessible and relatable. I loved the drama in this story but also how it was about everyday life, it read like a soap opera. The topics covered were very heavy but told in such a light away that left the reader with some thought provoking situations. This was such a fantastic read, 4.5 stars. It would have been a 5 star read but im not the biggest fan of ambiguous endings, i liked things a bit more wrapped up but that was my only real issue with this book. 

#141 Long Bright River

 Long Bright River by Liz Moore 

Im not going to lie to you, i 100% bought this because it was on Obama's list of favourite books and thats enough for me to buy it and read it! Its not a book i have seen much on bookstagram and its honestly so underrated! 

Long Bright River is a story about two sisters, Mickey and Kacey who grew up in Pittsburgh. The story is told from Mickeys POV and is told in past and present tense. The sisters grew up in a very disfunctional household and didnt have any healthy adult role models which shaped who the sisters themselves became as adults. Mickey as a character who just did her best and wanted to suceed and do the right thing whereas Kacey who is slightly younger than Mickey was more of a rebel wild child who got into trouble a lot. 

At the beginning of the story we leap into present tense of Mickey as a police officer and Kacey is a drug addict. Mickey spends her time on the beat watching out for Kacey on corners or hanging out with her usual bad crowd even though the sisters are no longer close. Both sisters have their issues to deal with, Mickey is a single mother trying to juggle her career and her son whereas Kacey has her obvious struggles with addiction. 

The main plot kicks off when a series of murders take place and all of the victims are drug addicts. Mickey is trying to discover who is behind the murders and the foul play behind them. When Kacey disappears Mickey becomes overly obsessed with finding this killer and finding out what has happened to her sister. 

I really loved the writing, i was completely enthralled by the story and cannot remember a time i was that emmersed in what was happening in a book. The author does a great job of fully sucking you in. The characters are so flawed and well written. I loved the past and present tense and the themes are so relevant to todays modern society and things that are happening in families all over the world. The drug addiction theme was very eye opening, ive read books featuring drugs before but this book did an excellent job of showing you a rounded view of the amount of people it affects, the addict themself, the family, the wider community and also the strain it puts on local law enforcement. The broken family dynamic was so powerfully written. What i will say is that its not a fast paced book, its such a slow burn. There is so much character development throughout, the characters are so real. Such a gripping novel, thanks Obama ;) 

#140 The Cactus

 The Cactus by Sarah Haywood 

I never would have picked this book up if it hadnt been a Reeses Book Club Pick, im not much into romance books so dont tend to buy or read them usually but i thought id give this one a go as im slowly making my way through all of the Reeses books and im so glad i did as it was such a pleasant surprise!

In this book we follow our main character Susan Green, Susan is a no nonsense woman who knows exactly what shes doing and when shes doing it. Susans life is very mundane and planned out, she isnt spontanous and she doesnt take risks. We learn very early on in the book that Susan is pregnant which was very much not a part of her plan. Susan doesnt have a serious boyfriend and is 45 years old so becoming pregnant was a massive shock to her. 13 years prior to the present time line in the story Susan answers an ad for a 'no strings attached' ad for a companion/lover, someone to go to nice dinners, plays and the opera with as well as the physical side of a relationship minus all the feelings and attachments that come with a relationship. Susan didnt want to share a life with anyone and for 13 years her needs were very much met through this companion ad, the man in question Richard felt the same way but when Susan discovers she is pregnant she cuts things off with Richard without explanation and decides to raise the baby by herself. 

Another side plot in this story is that at the beginning Susans mother dies and her estranged brother Edward  calls to give her the news but to also list his mothers wishes on what will be done with her estate which she has left to her son. Edward and Susan are polar opposites, whilst Susan has plans and contingencies in place in order to support herself Edward is very non chalant and takes life as it comes. Their mother recognised this and wanted to provide for Edward after her passing so left the house to him when Susan disagrees with this decision she decides to contest the will and fight against her mothers wishes in order to sell the house and split the money between them. Susan believes that Edward influenced their vulnerable mother into making this will 2 months before her death. Susan has a difficult time believing that their mother would cut her out like this. In Susans mind she was relying on her inheritance to help buy a flat and to further help her raise her unborn child. 

When Susan goes back to her home town and her childhood home for her mothers funeral she runs into her brothers friend, Rob. Shes immediatley suspicious of him as she thinks hes in cahoots with her brother in conspiring against Susan. Rob tries to reassure her that he wants to stay neutral and not get involved in their sibling issues but Susan is so closed off to people that she is very wary of him from the get go. Susan tries to use Rob to gain more information about their late mother and Edwards, anything that will help her in her fight to have the will ammended and her equal share of the estate. Susan also tries to get closer to her mothers sister, her neighbours and her mothers vicar in order to slightly manipulate them into agreeing to join her side. Lots of family secrets come out that rock Susans world and change everything she thought she knew. 

During the story we get some flashbacks to Susan and Edwards childhood to further understand their relationship which was really insightful and really supported the over arching story. I adored this book, i loved the simplicity of the story. It flowed so well and i couldnt put it down. Yes it did remind me of Eleanor Oliphant but it was also a very different story. The only similarities between them is that it follows two single women who are 'set in their ways' and enjoy their own lives and routine. I can understand that but thats where the similarities end for me. Susan is a very flawed yet real character, she is very relatable and even though she is difficult you find yourself rooting for her throughout regardless. I also liked the romance, it was very natural and not over done. The book is a very light and quick read about love, family and the importance of trusting and letting people in. 

#139 Echoes Of Gravity

 Echoes of Gravity (Tapache's Promise Trilogy) by James Murdo

• Page count: 337
• Genre: Sci-fi
• Publisher: Cranthorpe Millner 
• Release Date: 29th June 2021(UK) 

Blurb: Ancient machine intelligences. Resurrected species with no memories of the past. Creatures composed of gravity strings. What is hidden in the void between galaxies? Tapache, a machine intelligence with great power, has revived the Roranian people from their derelict remains. It has gifted them the Great Ship to voyage through space, and given them a purpose: to discover the truth about a weapon capable of unthinkable devastation. An unexpected attack, followed by hundreds of years in stasis, scuppers those plans. Hope seems lost for a small group of Roranian survivors, until something far greater draws them in: a megastructure beyond comprehension. The megastructure is far from safe. There are incumbent species that already lay their claim, all with secrets of their own, and a strangely smart information network that exists where it has no right. Was Tapache lying?

The lovely author James reached out to me over on instagram asking if i would like a copy of his upcoming sci-fi novel in exchange for an honest review and promotion over on instagram. I get a lot of these requests over on my bookstagram (@rach_the_reader) but this one was different as James had actually taken the time to look through some of my posts and had noticed that i had recently reviewed an arc of 'Shards of Earth' by the amazing Adrian Tchaikovsky (@aptshadow) and loved it, it meant a lot to me that James had taken the time to look through my posts and check out one of my recent reviews to see if i would be the right kind of reader for his new book and let me tell you i devoured this book in 2 days! I dont want to go into too much of what the book is about or the plot as i think its one of those books where its best to go in blind. All i will say is that we follow Diyun who is a member of the humanoid alien race, he wakes up from a period of stasis and finds himself in an unfamiliar place. This sets into motion Diyun trying to save his friends whilst questioning everything he thought to be true with some political conflicts thrown in. 

Echoes of Gravity is phenomenal, i wasnt sure what to expect going into it but my mind was blown with every chapter i read it was a tiny bit of a slow start and it does feel like a lot of information all at once but once you get over that bit its all smooth sailing. James does a wonderful job with the world building, its so expansive and vast. The descriptions used allow you to paint an amazing picture of this universe, i would put it up there with some of the best world building ive ever read! Im still in awe everytime i think about it. It also has a glossery which was so so helpful! Not every fantasy or sci-fi book includes that and it can sometimes be the downfall of the book if the reader cant follow what you are saying, i didnt have this problem with this book but did enjoy referring back to it sort of like bonus material. 

This book reminded me of so many other sci-fi books i love and deserves a worthy space amongst them. I must say it had a different feel to it than a typical sci-fi novel, there were so many twists and turns in the story that i honestly couldnt put it down! Im hoping and praying that James does a bit of a Sanderson/Tolkien/Martin/Hobb (take your pick) and writes multiple books in his Wanderer Universe. I loved this book and its 4 main characters but kept thinking throughout just how much potential the world has to follow so many different characters in different settings. 

*edited to add* So silly me, James has already become a Sanderson/Tolkien/Martin/Hobb as this book is one of many set in the same universe (facepalm) haha

Thank you to both the author and the publisher for yet another great blog tour and for reaching out to me! This book is currently also £1.99 on kindle, a total bargain that you should snap up quick!

Thanks for reading :)

#138 Mirrorland

 Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone

Yet another great blog tour for @TheWriteReads gang! Thank you as ever to Dave, the publishers and the author for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. Boy oh boy was i sucked in by this one! The book follows El and Cat who are identical twins, at the beginning of the story we learn that El has gone missing whilst on a boating trip and that Cat is travelling back to Scotland from California. Cat is returning back to the home that she grew up in with her sister that El and her husband Ross later bought at auction. Cat had not been back for 12 years and the twins have been estranged in that time. We learn that Cat and El are mirror twins and Cat is convinced if something bad had happened to El that she would be able to sense it, she returned to find out what game El is playing and why she has dragged Cat back to where they grew up after all these years. 

We as readers are slowly fed drips and drabs of a place the twins invented called Mirrorland. When Cat arrives back in Scotland she is immediatley flooded with memories from the past and everything she ran away from. 

This is definitely a book to annotate and take notes for, it reads like a mystery novel as there is so many layers and things we need to discover. There are a lot of hidden details and meanings that you really need to take your time and pay attention to, the writing is so intricate and i really must applaud the author for how well thought out things were. I would find myself reading a part and thinking 'hmm thats odd not sure how that will be relevant later' on only for a few chapters later to say 'ahhh that all makes sense now!'

I really enjoyed the magical realism elements to the story and when it veered down a more fantasy route with the twins childhood imaginings. I dont tend to read a lot of contemporary so i was really glad that this book was so multi layered with its genres, it felt like there was something for everyone. I really enjoyed the world building and immediately wanted to read more from this author. 

My only critique is that the book had a very slow start, i would say it took me over 2 hours to get to 10% of the way through. It didnt begin to feel more fast paced until around 30% for me but i fully put this down to getting used to the writing style and the story itself, once i was in i was fully in and it began flowing much better. 

#137 Not That Bad

 Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture by Roxanne Gay

Not That Bad is such a deeply important read, its so underrated and something i rarely see on bookstagram or booktube which is such a shame. The book is an anthology of essays written by a different author and covers an array of topics surrounding rape culture. Rape culture can be such a triggering and difficult topic for so many but i feel like so much can be learned from this book and that although parts of it can be triggering and upsetting it is such an important read. This book does not shy away from the hardest parts of rape culture to be delved into, it is very emotional and heavy in certain parts. 

I really admire Roxanne Gay for putting these stories together, they arent a fun read or even pleasant to read in certain circumstances but each and every story deserves our attention and deserves to be heard regardless of the subject matter surrounding it. These things happen every single day and it shouldnt be taboo to speak about it. The statistics are correct that 4/5's of young men and women in the UK have been sexually harrassed never mind assaulted so we shouldnt be turning a blind eye in order to live in blissful ignorance in my opinion. 

I listened to these essays on audiobook and it was even more powerful than reading it physically. It was told wonderfuuly by 3 different narrators and it really gave life to each story. It really gave each story a spotlight as these arent stories we hear everyday and we certainly dont get the point of view from the victim and how it affected them. I found it to be uplifting and empowering overall. The diversity, subject matter and scope within these essays is what makes it so unique, every other non fiction book ive read that covers topics such as feminism or rape culture is usually written by and for white women but this covered so many different people with different circumstances and what i loved was that it included the male voice and this isnt just something that affects women and that is so often forgotten about. It also included voices from the LGBTQ+ community which was so good to see and read as some of those groups are already so oppressed and it was nice to hear a different point of view from that of the white, middle class woman. 

The topics covered within this anthology range from cat calling to sexual assault even covering topics such as sexual abuse against children. We get to see so many different points of view but it all summarises how much of a problem rape culture still is within society and how we need to do better and educate. Educate our daughters, our sons, our family and our friends. 

The over arching topic of things being .not that bad' was so poignant throughout. No one has the right to judge some one elses story, what happened to them or how it made them feel and they certainly dont have the right to make it out like it was less than it was. It actually gave me myself a lot to think about when im having banter with friends not specifically about rape culture but more general things such as a disappointment, illness or even something like a fall and how that might actually make them feel deep down and how its not my place to judge the situation. It also made me think about how i will teach my young daughter to behave and how to better educate herself against rape culture. All in all one of the most important non fiction books ive ever read. 

#136 Kindred

 Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Kindred is one of the earliest published (first published in 1979) sci-fi novels by a POC author and that fact alone made me so keen to read this. I picked this one up not knowing absolutely anything about the plot but the new UK cover is stunning so i had to get myself a copy. 

The story follows a woman named Dana who finds that she is able to time travel back in time, she has no control over this and it can happen at anytime, she also doesnt know why this happens. She time travels back from her own time in the 1970's New York to early 19th century Maryland around 1815 i believe. Dana slowly begins to realise that she is travelling back to the same place and encountering the same boy each time, she works out that theres a correlation that anytime this young boy Rufus is in trouble Dana is drawn to him. Rufus's father owns a plantation and in the early 1800's black people are still sold as slaves and he is one of Dana's ancestors which forms the link between them. This is immediatley difficult for Dana as she is taken from the 70's and thrust into a time of being seen as a slave as she is a black woman herself. The men within this society make comments on the way Dana talks, carries herself and even the way she dresses. Its fair to say that they are suspisious of her. 

A really important plot point is that at the beginning of the book Dana cannot control when she travels nor for how long she will stay in the 1800's, when Dana is transported back time has progressed differently to that of her time in the past. Something to note is how feel Dana's relationship with Rufus is written, Rufus is very conflicted as he grows older in knowing that Dana is connected to him and there to help him but hes also being raised in a society where it is the norm for black people to be slaves and seen as lesser that the white man. 

I would say if you are going into this book hoping for a sci-fi novel then you will come away disappointed as this is much more of a historical fiction novel in the way it is written, with some time travel elements thrown in. There are no scientific explanations as to how Dana can travel in time, which didnt bother me but i imagine if you picked this book up hoping for more sci-fi it would. Its more a prop for the author to demonstrate the contrasting societies and how our values have changed over time. 

I really enjoyed this book, dont get me wrong its so harrowing in the topics and can be quite graphic at points but i could not put this book down. There is a lot of violence, sexual assault and discussion of slavery and worth etc. It certainly doesnt shy away from the topic of racism and the difficulty of being a female in that time period which for its time is highly commendable. I especially loved how indepth it was, we get an array of characters and really delve into each characters story. Such an engaging page turner! 

#135 The Girl With The Louding Voice

 The Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare

This book follows the story of a young Nigerian girl named Adunni, she is roughly about 14 years old and lives in a very poor village in Nigeria. At the beginning of the story Adunni is living with her mother and father and 2 brothers. At the beginning of the story Adunni's mother dies and her father makes the decision to marry Adunni off to a local man in the village as she would be one less mouth to feed. The man that Adunni is promised to already has 2 wives and Adunni dreads the possibility of becoming the third. 

All Adunni wants is an education and to go to school and become a teacher herself. After running from village life and the life of being a mans third wife Adunni finds herself in the city of Lagos. Lagos is very different from anything Adunni is used to the houses have indoor plumbing and the city is full of skyscrapers. Adunni finds herself in the home of Big Madam and is hired as a house maid, it is her job to clean and basically stay out of Big Madams sight. Big Madam is a volatile woman and often beats Adunni for the smallest things. Big Madams husband is an equally awful human and Adunni learns she must avoid him at all costs. 

I wont discuss the plot much more than that in order not to give away too much of the story as theres a lot more to the story. The shining light in this story is Adunni herself, shes so emotionally aware and intelligent as a 14 year old, she knows what she wants and she wont give up on her dream. Adunni's voice is very broken English and is so cleverly done, it made her much more authentic and believeable as a character and you really see her grow and learn throughout the book. 

First of all i was do shocked that this was a debut novel, its honestl so well written that it reads like a seasoned writers book, Abi Dare is a fantastic new voice in the world of fiction and i was so impressed by this story and writing. I cant wait to read more from this author, what a triumph. 

#134 Shards of Earth

 Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky 

• Pages: 592
• Publisher: Tor 
• Release date: 27th May 2021
• Amazon: click here
• Goodreads: click here
• Genre: adult SFF

Before i begin with this review i just want to let you all know that i utterly adored this book, one of my favourite reads from 2021 so far, possibly even ever! So this will be very gushy, prepare yourself! Adrain is also a super cool guy, ive had a few brief discussions with him on Twitter and i think its awesome how he interacts with his readers! Im mortified that this is the first book ive read of his even though i have Children of Time and Children of Ruin on my shelf and i recently bought my partner Doors of Eden in paperback for his birthday, so lots to binge through! 

Right on to the book, Shards of Earth is the first installment in The Final Architects Trilogy. The story starts off after a great war has destroyed Earth and mankind. Mankind were forced to create an elite fighting army which are basically advanced human beings known as intermediaries. One of those intermediaries is our protagonist Idris, a navigator on the ship the 'Vulture God'. I really loved the cast of characters that formed the crew (Solace was my fav!), it gave me 'A long way to a small angry planet' vibes. Although having said that this book had many unique aspects that ive never seen explored in the sci-fi genre before, it made for a really cool read. 

Idris is a super interesting character as he doesnt age, sleep or eat. He's as far from human as it gets whilst at the same time weirdly human. Our baddie's in this story are known as the Architects who roam the universe destroying everything and anything they come into contact with. When Idris learns that the Architects are making a resurgence he believes that all may be not as peaceful as it once was. 

Overall i found this book to be massively accessible, the world building was rich and detailed leaving the reader wanting more and also great for readers getting into the sci-fi genre, the cover is a little misleading as it makes the book look like hardcore sci-fi and i like my sci-fi but i do find it intimidating but i must say this book is great and i think the majority of readers would take to it really easily! My only ever so slight critisism is that i would have liked a bit more descriptive detail, this world was so vast and it was hard work trying to picture everything especially the different alien races etc, more description may have made that a little easier. All in all the writing is great, some of the best sci-fi ive ever read. Just call me a life long Tchaikovsky fan! 

As always a massive thank you to Dave (@TheWriteReads), Adrian and Tor UK for my gorgeous physical copy of the book. To say i loved it is an understatement, 5 stars from me! 

#133 Things to do before the end of the world

 Things To Do Before The End Of The World by Emily Barr 

• Publisher: Penguin 
• Genre: YA contemporary romance/ LGBT/ Suspense 
• Pages: 368

Delighted to be back with another review for @TheWriteReads gang! Ive been so MIA as life has been so full on lately! We've just bought a house and are knees deep in conveyancing crap and awaiting a completion date, we need to exchange as soon as possible as we need to switch my daughters school place as she starts reception in September. As if that wasnt stressful enough ive decided on a career change amidst all this and have decided to finally go for my dream job, i still have a few stages to go but im hoping it all goes smoothly in the next few months.

Ive been very limited to the books ive been saying yes to reading and reviewing currently but i couldnt refuse this one! such a gorgeous cover and a really great premise. Things to do before the end of the world is a coming of age story with some contemporary romance, LGBT and some suspense elements thrown in. Our main character Olivia is shy and perhaps a little niave, her world comes crashing down when the end of the world is predicted in a few short months. When a distant cousin Natasha gets in touch it unlocks some secrets from the past. Is Natasha everything she claims to be? 

I was expecting a sci-fi heavy story with some science elements surrounding the end of world events but this book focused more on Olivia and he feelings, coming out of her shell and finally focusing on herself. I loved how much Olivia went out of her comfort zone in order to live her best life whilst she could, it really gave me that yolo feeling and cemented that you never know what tomorrow will bring so say yes to everything that you can while you can! 

Ive heard of Emily Barr but had never read any of her books before but will definitely check them out now! This was a really surprisingly uplifting story, the writing was gorgeous and it really hit me in the feels more than i expected it too! It was scarily realistic when it discussed the idea that humans had caused the demise of the earth, not too much of a stretch from the current state of our world. I would have liked more about the end of the world itself and would have liked to have seen that be a bit more developed as a setting for the overall story but i did really enjoy this story and cant really fault it for what it was. I acually have already thought about rereading this! haha. Please pick this book up and give it a go, i promise you its really addicting. 

#132 The Year of the Witching

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

The Year of the Witching is a story of womanhood, religion, the patrichary, motherhood and revenge. Trigger warnings include physical and sexual violence towards women and traumatic child birth if you are sesitive to either i would suggest skipping over this book although what i will say is that both topic was handled very well by the author, it wasnt dragged out either but if its triggering for you then its probably best to skip over those parts. 

Emmanuel our bi-racial protagonist is born and raised in a small town called Bethel, Bethel is a cult like town which is run by a prophet and most of the women in the town end up marrying the prophet. From birth she is seen as an outsider within the community. Emmanuel's mother was seen as a 'sinful' woman and the community view Emmanuel in the same light. Her family is disgraced due to her mothers past sins (basically she was meant to marry the prophet and ended up having an affair with an outsider instead and getting pregnant. When the prophet found out he killed the outsider and her mother then ended up fleeing into the dark wood. She emerges 8 months later ready to give birth but right before she gives birth she says that the baby is a curse) and as a result Emmanuel dedicates herself to religion and seeks comfort in it. After a few mishaps within the story Emmanuel has always had a calling towards the dark wood and one day finds herself there even though she is told never to enter as it is said that witches were murdered there, when in the dark wood she finds her mothers old journal which unlocks a lot of secrets from the past and our story pretty much takes off from there. 

The book is a marketed as YA but i would say it reads closer to new adult/adult due to the themes involved. I would say my favourite part f this book was how atmospheric it is! I also loved the legends and folklore surrounding the dark wood, it was truly fasinating. The bi-racial rep was done very well in my opinion, Emmanuel's struggle with being an orphan and not knowing her fathers side of the family whilst also not fitting in with her family in Bethel was so interesting to read about and gave her character real depth. This is also a debut novel from Alexis Henderson which surprised me a lot, she writes like a seasoned writer and i am so excited to see what she comes up with next!

#131 Homegoing

 Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 

This is yet another example of one of those books i wish id read so much sooner. Homegoing is an incredibly hyped book across all of the bookish platforms and id honestly never heard a bad review of it or anyone disliking it. The book is set in the 1700's in Ghana we follow a woman who has 2 daughters from different men, 1 daughter is married to a white slave trader and the other daughter is sold into the slave trade and is sent to the America. In this book we get alternating chapers that follow the generatiosn of both of these women. The start of the book has a family tree type diagram so although it is a tiny bit confusing, you can refer back to see who is who and they do interconnect. We follow roughly 10 generations and as i previously mentioned it starts in the 1700's and we are brought right up to near present day. The chapters are fairly short with the reader getting about 40-50 pages on each character. At the very beginning of the book we get longer chapters and longer with each character and i found it got shorter and shorter towards the end of the book. 

The main theme of this book is obviously the slave trade. I found myself being greatly affected by this story when you sit and reflect that this actually happened and it was so despicible and horrendously traumatising. It was written so beautifully written and so raw, i never once doubted the validity of it and found it hard to believe that it was a work of fiction which really attests to the authors skill and story telling abilities. Writing about the slave trade as a topic is so difficult but i think the author did such a good job of showing the sheer contrast of both generations due to circumstance even though they were apart of the same family. 

I did have a few issues with the book, i thought it was overly rushed in parts and we simply didnt get enough time with each character. When i started the book i didnt actually realise how many characters we would be following so it was a bit of a shock when the author tried to fit so much content into 315 pages. I would have preferred a bit more time to get more invested in each character and their individual story. 14-16 characters with each character covering around 50 years of the story and some chapters were as short as 20 pages. That was probably my only big complaint with this book and the main reason why i gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. To write about such a vast history in such a compact way was in my opinion a tad insensitive but thats just my opinion. I still feel that overall this was an excellent novel and it does deserve the hype. I have recently purchased Yaa Gyasi's newest novel on kindle which im excited to get to! 

#130 What Beauty There Is

 What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson 

Today im bringing you a spotlight post for 'What Beauty There is' by the lovely Cory Anderson. Unfortunately there was a few issues with the netgalley link and i only received my physical copy (which im super grateful for, thank you so much Dave, Cory and the guys over at Penguin) I have started the book but havent finished it in time to post a review, lets blame toddlers and a stressful house move! I must say though that i have been really enjoying what ive read so far and usually if i wasnt so unusually busy i would have flew through this, i will post a proper review on Goodreads and Amazon when i do finish. A massive shout out to the author as shes been so engaging over on instagram and its been so lovely to see! 

• Publisher: Penguin 
• Page count: 360
• Release Date: 8th April 2021
• Genre: YA mystery/thriller 

Blurb (taken from Goodreads) 

Winter. The sky is dark. It is cold enough to crack bones.

Jack Morton has nothing left. Except his younger brother, Matty, who he'd do anything for. Even die for. Now with their mother gone, and their funds quickly dwindling, Jack needs to make a choice: lose his brother to foster care, or find the drug money that sent his father to prison. He chooses the money.

Ava Bardem lives in isolation, a life of silence. For seventeen years her father has controlled her fate. He has taught her to love no one. Trust no one. Now Victor Bardem is stalking the same money as Jack. When he picks up Jack's trail, Ava must make her own wrenching choice: remain silent or help the brothers survive.

Choices. They come at a price. 

Author 

Cory was born in Idaho and grew up an outdoor-girl in the rugged Middle Rockies. Her father, a park ranger, encouraged her to explore the woods and find “what beauty there is” in the world. He taught her to camp, and how to survive in the forest in winter. She later learned they didn’t have a lot of money, but as a child she never knew it. She had two best friends: Nature, and books.

All Cory’s life she’s felt the strong bonds of family and siblings. Her writing is based in these close relationships, and in the gritty experience of growing up in the wild Rocky Mountains. 

(continued on the authors website here) 

Links:

Twitter

Instagram

Amazon UK 

#129 The ABC Murders

 The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

Ive very recently gotten into Agatha Christie's books and ive heard a lot about this book in particular so it was one of the highest on my list to check out. Ive since made a list of both the Poirot and Miss Marple novels and im trying to pick them up and read them in order now. Since reading this one i have also picked up The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Poirot #1) and Murder at the Vicarage (Marple #1), the only other AC books ive read are And then there were none and Murder on the Orient Express so im developing quite a taste for her books to say the least!

The ABC Murders is a Poirot novel written in the 1930's and is the 13th book in the series and from what ive seen on Goodreads, Booktube and Bookstagram this is one of the most beloved AC novels. The book starts off with Poirot receiving an anonymous letter from someone who only refers to themself as 'ABC' and he claims that he will commit a series of murders that both Poirot and the police will not be able to solve. The main plot of the book is that the murderer kills a person with a name beginning with A, the victim also lives in a place beginning with the same letter. The second victims name begins with a B and so on. Poirot is immediatley at a loss of how he will solve these murders and apprehend the murderer. 

Ive heard that this book is very different and unique from the main series that AC has written. Having only read a few Poirot novels i havemt fully got a sense of the style just yet but what i do know is that Poirot is a good detective, very observant and a little bit of a know it all, of all the other Poirot books ive read there is a basic investigation which Poirot tends to keep his cards to his chest and then there will be a chapter towards the end where Poirot reveals the murderer and explains how he worked it out. The ABC Murders is a little different in the sense that Poirot seems stumped for the majority of the book. The killings in this book are very random whereas in the other books there also seems to be a motive and one person that benefits from the victims death more so than the others. There are also very minimal clues to go on which is another unusual aspect of the book. The other thing that sets this book apart is that it is following a serial killer whereas most of the other books revolve around a singular murder. All in all these elements made for a really good read. 

I found this book to be fast paced, interesting and an all round good read. It was a different read from her usual novels. I always love guessing the ending but the ending always has me stumped. I think this would be a good starting place for people wanting to check out AC! I cant wait to continue reading more by her. 

#128 The Castaways

 The Castaways by Lucy Clarke 

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Harper Collins UK for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

When i requested this one i had no clue what it was about but the cover gave me The Island by CL Taylor (which was another Netgalley arc) and Lord of the Flies vibes. I really adore survival stories and find myself straying towards them more and more. After the first few chapters i realised this was a story about a plane crash that left the remaining surviving passengers stranded on an island off the coast of Fiji. 

The story follows the story of sisters Lori and Erin who were meant to be going on a luxery holiday to Fiji to escape their lives in London. Lori has just split from her husband after he admitted to having an affair and Erin is living from paycheque to paycheque doing a job that doesnt make her happy. The sisters are planning on taking the holiday to reconnect but when the night before the flight they have a huge argument only Lori makes the flight.

The story is told is past tense Lori during and the aftermath of the plane crash and present day (2 years later) Erin who has never given up on knowing what happened to sister and her search for answers. At the very beginning of the story the planes pilot Mike Brass turns up in Fiji very much alive with only one problem, hes not talking. Erin immediatley realises there is more to the story and flies out to Fiji to get her answers. 

Meanwhile in Lori's chapters we get to know the other survivors, Mike, Daniel, Felix and 4 month old Sonny. It has a very Lord of the Flies feel in that you dont know who you can trust and as rations dwindle the group become more and more tense. I was constantly wary of Daniel and Felix and less so but sometimes of Mike too and the fear of what might come of the baby was terrifying! 

For me the thing i really enjoyed about this was that the chapters felt like very different stories but they merged so beautifully. Lucy Clarke is an excellent writer and definitely one to watch. Just when i would find myself favouring one timeline over the other the author would draw me back in with a little twist or mini cliffhanger and i was constantly left wanting to know more. I enjoyed both sisters and they were so realistically done, they felt so real to me and that really amped up my enjoyment levels. This book is 100% worth a read, i wont say too much more as i dont want to ruin the mystery/thriller elements of it but pick it up and read it. 

#127 The Aether Ones

 Aether Ones By Wendi Coffman-Porter

Publisher: Brown Books Publishing Group

Release date: October 13th 2020

Genre: Scifi/Mystery

Pages: 280

I am excited to be taking part in yet another @TheWriteReads blog tours! Today is is for the wonderful 'Aether Ones'. I was immediatley drawn to this one as the cover reminded me of Ready Player One which is my favourite sci-fi book of all time. I do love the genre but dont tend to read as much of it as i should really. 

Synopsis:

'Leilani Falconi is a top agent for the Imperial Investigative Service, tasked with policing the veil between two realities. Long ago, the Great Sundering tore the universe into two mirrored halves; aether space, which progressed using magical energy or eldrich, and kuldain, which advanced via electromagnetic technology. But now a series of suspicious deaths stretching back more than a decade has the agent trapped directly between secretive bureaucracies and their peoples. If she can’t solve the mysterious crimes in time, existence as she knows it could erupt into chaos.'

The book is a mystery with softer sci-fi elements which ive never really read before, so refreshing! The book was a nice mix of sci-fi, mytsery with just a touch of fantasy. 

One of my biggest struggles with the book was the lack of world building, i wanted to know more and a bit of expansion on the world would have really put the story in context. We are from the first page thrust into the action without much of an introduction which was unusual, I must admit i struggled with the writing at first but i got used to it the more i read and i did end up really enjoying this book. There was so much fast paced action to keep me enthralled throughout. 

Leilani was an interesting protagonist for sure, she was smart, interesting and independent with a little dash of sass for good measure. I enjoyed reading about her and constantly felt myself wanting to know more. 

I read a ton of SFF and have recently been straying more towards adult rather than YA so i do wonder if that has in some way affected my reading experience of this book but none the less i did enjoy it and i was glad the main story was somewhat wrapped up in the first book. Im excited to check out more from this author as this book was packed to the brim with potential. 

Rating: 

#126 Bad Habits

 Bad Habits by Flynn Meaney

Thank you to @TheWriteReads for another amazing blog tour, this time for Bad Habits by Flynn Meaney. I was immediately drawn to this book due to the amazing cover! The synopsis also drew me in, i love feminist stories especially in YA!

Bad Habits follows the story of rebel Alex from San Francisco, when she finds herself in an elite catholic boarding school called St.Marys in Minnesota. Side Note: (I also went to a catholic school called St.Marys! so i immediatley related haha). Alex is spunky, outspoken and a raging feminist in the best way, Alex misses her life in San Fran and her friends so makes it her mission to get expelled from St.Marys by any means necessary but ultimately decides that her best chance of success is by putting on a show of The Vagina Monologues through her feminist society which she hopes will shock the nuns so much that they will have no choice but to kick her out.  

This book is such a quick read, Alex reminded me a lot of myself finding herself in a super catholic school when she really didnt want to be. The writing is funny and moments had me laughing out loud. I enjoyed a few of the side characters mainly Mary-Kate who is Alex's hopeless romantic roommate. Mary-Kate is the absolute polar opposite of Alex, she is a good girl, innocent, a great student and a rule follower but she is so sweet in every way, i couldnt help but root for her even more so that for Alex. 

The book is so fun, its basically one girls exploration of how far she can go to get kicked out of her boarding school. I must admit i did get confused between all the nun and priest characters and couldnt keep up with who was who. I would have liked to have seen more of the ice hockey as that was a really fun element too. I loved the coming together at the end and the new members wanting to join the feminist club, it really felt like Alex had found her tribe and that she had a clear focus going forward. I also would have really liked more from her family as they werent mentioned too much. 

All in all i would say i really enjoyed this book, it was fun, quick and everything i would have wanted to read as a teen! 

#125 White Trash Warlock

 White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton 

• Goodreads: Check it out here
• Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
• Genre: Urban Fantasy
• Page count: 307

Thank you as always to @The WriteReads for yet another opportunity to be a part of this amazing blog tour and to the publishers and author for sending me a physical copy of the book. I was immediatley drawn in by the really cool cover and couldnt wait to get started with this, i also have a very deep love for deckled edges!

The book follows Adam Binder who has the power of the sight, meaning he can see into the spirit world which includes gnomes, elves and spirits. Adam unlike most people in books with an ability has always seen it as a hinderance causing friction in his family, friendships and triggering his fathers rage. When Bobby, Adams brother has him committed to a psych ward it takes Adam years to begin accepting who he is and to try and use his ability to help people. When Adam tries to find his missing father, he follows a trial of cursed artifacts only to find that a spirit has possessed the wife of his brother Bobby. It isnt long before Adam attracts the attention of the spirit, he must use his abilities like never before in order to bargain with dangerous entities to save his sister in law and to find out the truth of his missing father. 

The story is set in modern day Denver but with the inclusion of many paranormal entities, the author did a great job of writing both aspects parallel to each other. I actually cant fault the writing at all. I really enjoyed the characters and the LGBTQA+ elements, surprisingly this is still quite rare in fantasy books! I thought Adam as a protagonist was particularly intriguing with his history of trauma and childhood of abuse, he was such a complex character with his flaws and insecurities, i enjoyed watching him grow in confidence and learn to accept who he is. Other stand out characters for me were definitely Vic and Argent. Im not normally keen on romanace elements in fantasy books but i will make an exception as it wasnt overdone and felt really natural between Vic and Adam. I would have liked more background from Vic's character but perhaps the author is leaving this to later books in the series. 

I would say this book was definitely a grower, it took me a few chapters to become completely hooked! I usually dont like reading both urban fantasy or paranormal fantasy so i really wasnt sure how it was going to go but i was so surprised by how this book hooked me in. I enjoyed the twists along the way (as a thriller reader the twists were much appreciated and kept me enthralled) The themes of acceptance, anger, grief and family strife were what made this book such a great read. The book has an excellent set of characters who are realistic, complex and flawed, an interesting world and an awesome plot. I cannot wait to see where the next book takes us! 

More info on the author can be found here

You can buy a copy of the book on:

Amazon or Book Depository 

#124 A Little Life

 A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara 

(Review will contain spoilers so please dont read if you havent read the book yet)

Where do i even begin with honestly the most emotional, harrowing yet stunningly beautiful book ive ever read? A Little Life follows the story of Jude St Francis and his 3 college friends Willem, JB and Malcolm. The book follows the 4 boys into adulthood, we follow the main story which is set in present day New York but we also get a glimpse into each of their childhood and how they came to be the men they are. Firstly i will say that i have never ever in my years and years of being an avid reader become so emotionally invested in a set of characters before, they felt like family to me which made the reading even more harrowing. As we learn about each of the main characters back stories and of their families and up bringings you notice immediatley as you are redaing that we skip over Jude, he is described as mysterious by his friends and all they know if that he doesnt have parents. Jude is not like other guys his age, he doesnt express attraction for anyone, he doesnt have intimate relationships and he doesnt like being touched all that much. His friends have their theories but no one knows the true story of what happened to Jude. 

Jude is very central to the book and his storyline is what makes the story so tragic. Jude had a horrically tragic childhood, he was forced into prostitution from a young age, he was beaten and kidnapped and exploited by someone he though he could trust. After Jude escapes that chapter in his life he is once again taken in and exploited and then run over and left for dead. As a direct result of this Jude walks with a noticeable limp and this makes him very self conscious. From being beaten throughout his young life Jude is left with raised scars of his back and he also has many scars on his arms and legs from the self harm he used as a tool for escape from the terrible things that happened to him. He experiences the horror of being a victim of domestic violence (i think those were the worst chapters for me, it was just so raw and so real and i felt so much for Jude that i couldnt help but let it upset me) This information is fed to the readers through drips and drabs throughout the 700+ page book. Theres also trigger warnings for suicide as well. 

Willem has had a difficult childhood, his parents were very cold and he was raised going through the motions pretty much. Willem was raised with his severely disabled and wheelchair bound brother Hemming. When Hemming passes away Willem loses touch with his parents and moves away for college and to pursue his dream career of acting. Willem is one of the best characters ive ever read about and i feel that he often gets over looked in this story, his compassion and understanding and the way he accepts Jude for who he is and never expects anything from him is just the most beautiful thing and hands down the best friendship in a book ever written. 

JB is an openly gay POC, he is often deribed as the funny one in the friendship group. JB has of all the guys the best home life, he was raised by a mother and his aunts who absolutely adore and empower him. JB is an artist and for a period of time in the book really struggles with drug addiction. I thought this part of the book was so well written and so realistic. JB pushes away his family and closest friends in favour of his addiction and the friends that he has made that feed into that addiction. 

Malcom grew up in a home where his father always favoured his sister Flora and made it known to the entire family, as a result Malcolm works extra hard to earn not only his fathers respect but also his love. Malcolm is an arcitect and is extremley talented at what he does. He is a good friend but always feels as if he is in the background of the story, i never felt like he was a pivotal character or as prominent as the other 3 friends. 

Andy is another important character and staple in this story. Andy is Judes friend and doctor. He is the only person (apart from Willem) that has seen Judes scars and that knows of the pain and the cutting that Jude deals with on a daily basis. Andy often berates Jude and calls him crazy whilst telling him he needs therapy which may seem harsh but it is made clear to the reader that Andy wants what is best for Jude. There are numerous examples of how selfless Andy is in regards to Jude throughout the book, he often drops everything for Jude and he was such an important character in the overall story. 

Harold is a professor of Judes in college and immediately realises how bright he is, the pair become close and Harold invites Jude and his friends to his house for dinner with his wife Julia. This becomes a bit of a tradition and the couple grow very close to the boys over a number of years. Harold and Julia eventually ask to adopt Jude which was possibly the most precious thing and one of the only decent things to ever happen to Jude. How they took him on when he didnt allow them to be physically affection with him or to answer any of their questions was just so wholesome! I think this book has one of the strongest found family dynamics that ive ever read and that was in large part thanks to Harold and Julia. We get a lot of insight into Harold and Judes relationship but i would have liked a few more scenes with just Julia and Jude as i really wanted to see more development of their relationship.

I loved this book, it made me feel things that i didnt ever think words on a page could make me feel. Its a wonderful character driven story and you really get to know these 4 friends and how they interact with each other. The story follows them through the highs and lows of their lives and it just superbly written. 

I think one thing i did struggle with was the structure of the writing, like something big would happen ie. when Willem is in a car accident with Malcolm and his wife Sophie and the next chapter the author starts with some BS that happened 7 years ago, now im all for intrigue but come on now tell me what became of my beloved Willem! Dont just leave me hanging. I can see why the writing has been described as both pretentious and wordy but i got on with it ok and it was no more pretentious that some dark academia books ive read. 

Overall this book was just gorgeous, it broke my heart over and over again but my heart belongs with each and everyone of those characters, for 700+ pages they really felt like friends to me. I dont think ill ever read this book again, parts of it (mainly the DV scenes really messed with my sleep) but i will always look back with such fondness for this book. Definitely up there with my favourite books of all time. 

#123 Whisper Network

 Whisper Network by Chandler Blake 

Another amazing Reeses Book Club pick! Whisper Network follows the story of 3 friends, Sloane, Grace and Ardie. They work for a corporation called Truviv as lawyers. The friends have been in each others lives a long time and tell each other everything. When the CEO of Truviv dies the man who is next in line for his job is their line manager Ames. There has always been a lot of rumours and gossip surrounding Ames both in his professional and personal life. When a list immerges known as the 'bad men' list which is a list created by professional women with the names of high ranking men that have harrassed them, made a pass at them, made innuendos etc, basically a list of men that are less than professional to their colleagues of the opposite sex. The purpose of the list is to make women in a professional capacity aware of these men so they know to avoid them. 

When a new female joins the team, the women begin to notice that Ames is targeting her, giving her extra attention they are immediatley wary that something untoward is going on. The women come together and decide that they dont want to let men like Ames away with this kind of behaviour anymore and they come together to stand up to Ames. The women raise a case against Ames and Truviv and everything begins to snowball from there. 

This book reminded me a lot of the film Bombshell which is based on a true story of the sexual harrassment received by female works at Fox News, if you havent watched the movie i highly recommend it. It is available on Prime Video. 

One thing i think could have been slightly improved upon was the lack of diversity, i know there was a few hispanic characters which was great to see but it felt very white washed in places, all the characters seemed to be living a corporate life which was pretty perfect from the outside looking in. 

All in all this book is a triumph for the #metoo movement, i enjoyed the themes of empowerment, friendship and standing up for what is right to be very powerful and emotive. I found the book to be so relatable in ways i never even imagined and it also made me so wary of what i will and will not accept going forward not just in my professional life but my personal life too. The author does a great job of pointing a subtle nod that this affects women everywhere. I also think its important to point out that the author points out that its not all men which is important too. I honestly couldnt put this book down! Chandler Blakes writing was phenomenal and i eagerly wait for her next book to come out!