The Last Firefox – Lee Newbery ★★★★

May 17, 2022 bookclubbetweenthepagesLeave a comment

Blurb; A heartwarming story about family, friendship and finding your inner fire.

Between bullies at school and changes at home, Charlie Challinor finds life a bit scary. And when he’s made guardian of a furry fox cub called Cadno, things get a whole lot scarier.

Because Cadno isn’t just any fox: he’s a firefox – the only one of his kind – and a sinister hunter from another world is on his trail.

Swept up into an unexpected adventure to protect his flammable friend, Charlie’s going to need to find the bravery he never thought he had, if he’s going to save the last firefox . . .

My Review; An easy read for me as it’s an older children’s story but one full of magic and adventure. Contains beautiful illustrations throughout. A brilliant story about another world beyond and a fire fox entering the real world to remain safe. But a fire fox is not easy to look after and remain hidden from your parents. This could be the only fire fox left in in world so needs to be saved.There is a great representation here for the gay community as the boy lives with his two fathers and is adopted. This fox finds itself in alot of bothered throughout this story and starting fires for fun. But can they remain hidden from the monster who wants to claim him? Fun read. Different. Full of imagination. I really enjoyed it. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.

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Love Frankie – Jacqueline Wilson ★★★★

August 18, 2021 bookclubbetweenthepagesLeave a comment

Blurb; GROWING UP. FALLING IN LOVE. COMING OUT.

Frankie is nearly fourteen and teenage life certainly comes with its ups and downs. Her mum is seriously ill with MS and Frankie can feel herself growing up quickly, no thanks to Sally and her gang of bullies at school.

When Sally turns out to be not-so-mean after all, they strike up a friendship and are suddenly spending all of their time together.

But Frankie starts to wonder whether these feelings she has for Sally are stronger than her other friendships. Might she really be in love?

Frankie doesn’t want Sally to just be her friend. She wants her to be her girlfriend. But does Sally feel the same?

My Review; Since I was young I’ve always loved and read Jacqueline Wilson so why stop now eh? This is her newest book and I may be wrong but her first gay book I think? It’s a long read with small writing and short chapters but worth every page. A brilliant story of coming out, growing up and friendship. I devoured this in a day.

Absolutely loved it all. A great YA read. Highly recommend. Many readers can relate to a least some part of this story in their teen years. First love. Sally was a bit of a bi polar character for me. She was either the bully, ignorant or bestfriends and lovely but that makes her character I suppose. A well deserved four stars from me.

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crime · Detective · mystery · suspense

True Crime Story – Joseph Knox ★★★★★

August 5, 2021August 5, 2021 bookclubbetweenthepages1 Comment

Blurb; In the early hours of Saturday 17 December 2011, Zoe Nolan, a nineteen-year-old Manchester University student, walked out of a party taking place in the shared accommodation where she had been living for three months.

She was never seen again.

Seven years after her disappearance, struggling writer Evelyn Mitchell finds herself drawn into the mystery. Through interviews with Zoe’s closest friends and family, she begins piecing together what really happened in 2011. But where some versions of events overlap, aligning perfectly with one another, others stand in stark contrast, giving rise to troubling inconsistencies.

Shaken by revelations of Zoe’s secret life, and stalked by a figure from the shadows, Evelyn turns to crime writer Joseph Knox to help make sense of a case where everyone has something to hide.

Zoe Nolan may be missing presumed dead, but her story is only just beginning

My Review; I have seen this book everywhere, so ofcourse I had to check it out myself! I am so glad I did. This is the first book I have read by this author but it won’t be the last. This was amazing. 5 stars and more. It went straight into my top reads of the year. Loved it. Highly recommend. A must buy. A must read. You will not be disappointed.

It’s set at Manchester University and as a local I knew all the places within the book and the University itself making it more real for me as a reader. The author has written this book so cleverly that I had to actually message a friend who had already read it to make sure it wasn’t a true crime. Very clever indeed. Very impressed.

The story is told through each of the characters involved throughout. So it was an easy read for me which I devoured and finished before I knew it. I was hooked. It really was a brilliant, page turner of a read. One I don’t think I could ever forget. One I will recommend for a long time. This author just blew me away. Now I understand the hype… Thank you Joseph.

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