Tag: 5 stars

Bestsellers · chick-lit · romance

The Switch – Beth O’Leary ★★★★★

bookclubbetweenthepagesLeave a comment

Blurb; Eileen is sick of being 79.
Leena’s tired of life in her twenties.
Maybe it’s time they swapped places…

When overachiever Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, she escapes to her grandmother Eileen’s house for some overdue rest. Eileen is newly single and about to turn eighty. She’d like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn’t offer many eligible gentlemen.

Once Leena learns of Eileen’s romantic predicament, she proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love. Meanwhile Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire. But with gossiping neighbours and difficult family dynamics to navigate up north, and trendy London flatmates and online dating to contend with in the city, stepping into one another’s shoes proves more difficult than either of them expected.

Leena learns that a long-distance relationship isn’t as romantic as she hoped it would be, and then there is the annoyingly perfect – and distractingly handsome – school teacher, who keeps showing up to outdo her efforts to impress the local villagers. Back in London, Eileen is a huge hit with her new neighbours, but is her perfect match nearer home than she first thought?

My Review; Another absolutely beauty and belter of a book. Another huge five stars. Again this will be going into my top twenty reads of the year. It’s amazing. Another must read. The wonderful Vikki bought me this as I enjoyed The Flatshate so much and I devoured this in less than 24 hours. Oops. Seriously impressive and good. A new favourite author for me.

Again it has the similar layout to The Flatshare where the story is told through both the characters, Eileen (grandmother) and Leena (granddaughter). It’s as the title says they switch houses and lives. An uplifting story, a story of new beginnings a story of change and hope. Both beautiful characters. Eileen is hilarious wish she was my nan, she made me chuckle. Another brilliant story I devoured and won’t be able to forget. Beautiful.

A small, cute town VS the London life. Complete opposites. How will they cope with their new lives? New friends? And new freedom? Cannot recommend her books enough. Now I’ve got a long wait till next year. Sigh.

Amazon Link UK

Amazon Link US

Fairytale Retelling · fantasy

The Winter of the Witch – Katherine Arden ★★★★★

bookclubbetweenthepages

Blurb; Now Moscow has been struck by disaster. Its people are searching for answers—and for someone to blame. Vasya finds herself alone, beset on all sides. The Grand Prince is in a rage, choosing allies that will lead him on a path to war and ruin. A wicked demon returns, stronger than ever and determined to spread chaos. Caught at the center of the conflict is Vasya, who finds the fate of two worlds resting on her shoulders. Her destiny uncertain, Vasya will uncover surprising truths about herself and her history as she desperately tries to save Russia, Morozko, and the magical world she treasures. But she may not be able to save them all.

My Review; The cover on this book is beautiful. The is the final book in the Winternight Trilogy and in my eyes the best one out of all three. A brilliant ending to the trilogy. I enjoyed the whole trilogy even if book two disappointed me a little but this pulled it back. This story is non stop. Action packed. There is always something happening.

Death. Deceit. Blood. Lies. Love. Religion. War. Magic. This really has it all a very magical read. I didn’t want to put it down its about time Vasya got a break as throughout this trilogy she has defied death, helped wars, hidden and reaked death and tragedy. Which side is she actually on? I have loved her character throughout, very unique. Determined. Strong. Brave.

I am sad I have come to the end of the trilogy but a brilliant trilogy to have read. Enjoyed every moment of it. It will open your imagination to a whole new world. A well deserved five stars from me. Highly recommend.

Amazon Link UK

Amazon Link US

crime · Detective · mystery · suspense · thriller

Burned – Thomas Enger ★★★★★

bookclubbetweenthepagesLeave a comment

Blurb; Uncovering class divisions, racial conflicts, and tangled emotions, this gritty, shocking novel of suspense heralds the arrival of a major new talent.

Henning Juul is a veteran investigative crime reporter in Oslo, Norway. A horrific fire killed his six-year-old son, cut scars across his face, and ended his marriage, and on his first day back at the job after the terrible tragedy a body is discovered in one of the city’s public parks. A beautiful female college student has been stoned to death and buried up to her neck, her body left bloody and exposed. The brutality of the crime shakes the whole country, but despite his own recent trauma – and the fact that his ex-wife’s new boyfriend is also on the case – Henning is given the assignment. When the victim’s boyfriend, a Pakistani native, is arrested, Henning feels certain the man is innocent. This was not simply a Middle Eastern-style honor killing in the face of adultery – it was a far more complicated gesture, and one that will drag Henning into a darkness he’s never dreamed of.

My Review; Burned is book number one in the Henning Juul series. I stupidly read book five first so have decided to start from book one now! There is just something different and something I love about this series. It’s addictive.

Burned is a great first story to the series and introduces all the characters perfectly alongside a thrilling mystery of what really happened to Henriette? I must admit I have spoiled some aspects of the book already as I read book five first but it still had me hooked and plenty to keep me guessing and engaged! This is why you read series’s IN ORDER!!

Henning is a journalist for an online newspaper and is facing his own personal issues/demons while returning back to work after 2 years. However, he would make a brilliant detective rather than a journalist! I did also not expect that outcome of the whole case/mystery either. Brilliant.

Burned is a fast paced, easy to read story that can easily be devoured and contains short chapters. A very cleverly researched and planned out story. A well deserved five stars from me and I would totally recommend this series to you all so far. I’m off to dive into book two now (Pierced).

Amazon Link UK

Amazon Link US