I hardly read anything for the first three months of the year. Work was busy and I just didn't find or make the time. The lock down hit and like many other people I found the time to read again and it was a useful escape when everything around me was full of anxiety. I wanted to use todays post to catch up on the everything I've read in the first half of 2020.
I had a few paperbacks passed on from my boyfriends Mum but my kindle has been a savour since the library hasn't been an option. I was also introduced to NetGalley and that's given me the opportunity to read some great books too. I've marked the books I was gifted in return for a review with an asterisk but all opinions are my own and I wasn't asked to write this blog post.
Philip Pullman's The Secret Commonwealth
I was warned before I started that this book doesn't finish properly - yet the ending made me desperate to read the next one to find out what happens to Lyra and Pantalaimon. Get a move on Philip! This book was my happy place for the first few anxious weeks of lock down and, as always, I find Lyra's world incredible.
Rating: five stars
This book reminded me of everything I loved about 'Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging' but for adults. If you are interesting in knowing more about why I loved this book I wrote a full review here. It took me just 4 days to read which says it all really.
Rating: five stars
How often do you gasp out loud when reading a book? If you are looking for a thriller to read this summer I can’t recommend ‘The Other Passenger’ more. It’s one of the best thrillers I’ve ever read. This is the first book I've read by Louise Candlish but it won't be the last. The first 50% of the book is told through a single meeting and a series of flashbacks. Your heart is breaking for Jamie being accused of something he clearly doesn't have an idea about but that sympathy is limited when you hear about the afraid with the victims wife. From reading the first half of the book you'd never guess who the story was going to unfold and that is what makes it so great.
Rating: five stars
I forgot how much I loved reading about the life of crazy rich Asians. I think I read this book even faster than the first in the series and enjoyed it just as much. It took me a little while to remember who everyone was and how the families linked into each other while being introduced to a handful of new people. Excuse me while I go and download 'Rich People Problems' into my kindle!
Rating: five stars
This book had been on my ‘too read’ pile for the longest time, passed on from my boyfriends mum, and since I’ve been racing through books at the moment I finally got round to reading it! I found the start properly creepy and it kept me reading through the night unable to put it down. I thought it was a really good thriller that kept me guessing until the very end.
Rating: four stars
Okay this book totally lives up to the hype! I picked it up after seeing good reviews on social media and it was only 99p on kindle. 'The Flat Share' is like a hug in a book - it just made me so happy from start to finish. I really liked the way gas lighting and emotional abuse was developed through Tiffy's eyes. It was one of these books that make you wonder how the characters are now long after you've put it down.
Rating: five stars
I’ve read some great books recently and ‘The Love Square’ by Laura Jane Williams is another one I’d recommend! It has some heart breaking moment but it was such a wholesome, lovely read that I got stuck into very quickly. There was something about Penny getting caught up in life and losing track of what you really want I found relatable as a twenty something. I quickly fell in love with Francesco myself but found myself wanting the best for Penny with Thomas and Priyesh too. I think this is because all three characters seemed really well rounded.
Rating: five stars
A good thriller is one of my favorite books to read outside in the sunshine over the summer. Every year there are lots released which tick this tick this box and 'The Weekend Away' is definitely one I'd recommend. There are plenty of twists and turns to the story which will keep you hooked until the very end. When Orla and Kate go for a weekend away in Lisbon things very quickly start to unravel. I found it difficult to connect to the characters at first - Kate seemed like a terrible friend and I couldn't understand why Orla would go away for a weekend of parting and drinking when she had a young baby at home. Somehow I'd forgotten the tagline of the book so when I found out the fate of one of the characters I was still shocked. I found that Orla made a series of bizarre decisions, the police were frustratingly unhelpful and what sort of husband leaves his wife staging in a foreign city with a stranger? Even though I found the characters frustrating all the plot points were nicely tied up at the end. If you are looking for a quick and enjoyable read this summer then I would recommend this book - even if it wasn't my favorite thriller.
This is propbably the best book I've read this year - so good it deserves a stand alone review closer to the release date, however, in the mean time I had no doubt I’d like Emma Gannon’s debut novel. I loved every minute of ‘Olive’! It’s the perfect of example of a book where I didn’t personally relate to the main characters struggles but could still empathise. I found Olive’s struggle of no wanting to have children when it’s all her best friends can talk about such a compelling read. It kept me wanting to pick up constantly so I read it in just over a week and would happily recommend it to everyone. I think it really challenges the way women can feel about having children and how the people around them react. Maybe the ending was a little cliched but I love a happy ending so it was perfect for me.
Rating: five stars
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Would love to know what you think about the post! I read every single one but if you have a question tweet me @gisforgingers. P.s. Comments make my day...