BOOK REVIEW: Louis & Louise by Julie Cohen

Louis and Louise are the same person in two different lives. They are separated only by the sex announced by the doctor and a final 'e'.
They have the same best friends, the same red hair, the same dream of being a writer, the same excellent whistle.
They both suffer one catastrophic night with life-changing consequences. Thirteen years later, they are both coming home. 

Publisher: Orion

Pages: 296

Julie Cohen's last book, Together was one of my favourite reads in 2018 so I was ridiculously excited to see what her latest book would be about. Louis & Louise follows a baby born in 1978, one narrative explores what would happen if the baby was a boy- Louis and the other narrative explores the events if the baby was a girl- Louise. Both Louis and Louise have the same set of circumstances; same parents, same friends and childhood experiences, so what difference does their gender make? Louis & Louise is quite a simple idea really but Cohen uses it to visit so many complex issues- parent and child relationships, loyalty, gender, friendship, sexuality and the wealth divide in America.
This is a fantastic book and so relevant for the time we live in. It left me with a huge amount to think about and question. At first I enjoyed Louise's narrative more as I think I obviously identified with her as a female. However as Louis' narrative developed, it was just as enjoyable. It was fascinating to observe how they both react to identical circumstances. Their relationship with their parents, Peggy and Irvine is so well done. Having had difficult relations with my own parents in the past, it was quite profound to have it presented on the page. Cohen shows how all parents make mistakes at times but if you strip everything back, that vital family link and shared history will always be there. It's often much easier to be angry at somebody you love rather than someone you don't have that attachment to. Louis and Louise are born in 1978 so this book felt quite nostalgic to me. I was born four years later in 1982 but I could identify with both characters and the events in their childhood. Cohen cleverly uses twins Allie and Benny as Louis and Louise's best friends and it was a good way of comparing them gender-wise, plus a good marker for how different they are in the present to their closest friends from the past. Both Louis and Louise leave the tight-knit community that they grew up in whereas Allie and Benny remain for one reason or another.
I think Louis & Louise will appeal to so many readers. I marvelled again at the capacity Julie Cohen has to explore human emotions and feelings. She never shies away from the uncomfortable or complex and this brings a huge amount of realism to her writing. Cohen's talent sings from every page of this book and I urge you to read it.

Many thanks to Orion for sending me a copy of this book to read, Louis & Louise is out now. 

BOOK REVIEW: Together by Julie Cohen

Robbie and Emily have been together for years, but their love is still fresh and fierce. They have shared a bed, a home, a bond so deep it can't be broken. But there are things they don't share, things best left unsaid.
On a morning like any other, Robbie wakes, dresses, writes Emily a letter and leaves their home for good. There is a secret they've been keeping since the day they met. The sacrifices and choices that have sealed their fates could be exposed, and this is the only way to keep it all hidden. 

Publisher: Orion

Pages: 341

Wow, Together is the most unexpected love story I have ever read! Julie Cohen is so masterful with emotions in this book, and the suspense and mystery she creates is something else!
Robbie and Emily me and fell in love immediately and they have made a life for themselves with children of their own and even grandchildren too. But as Robbie's ageing mind begins to falter they are both suddenly very scared that he may accidentally reveal the secret they have always managed to keep. Robbie will do anything to protect Emily and their family, he knows that were they to reveal the truth then they would lose everything they love and hold dear and he won't allow that to happen.
Julie Cohen managed this beautiful story so well, she goes back and forth between the present day and the past and we discover how Robbie and Emily met and the huge sacrifices they made out of love for each other.
When Cohen revealed Robbie and Emily's secret, it was not what I had expected at all and I was so impressed by how it all suddenly made sense. I could think back on how she had dropped hints whilst building the plot up, it is so well done.
Together by Julie Cohen is quite the twist on the traditional love story but it is superb. I was so invested in Robbie and Emily by the end that I felt quite bereft to leave them behind on the final page. I can easily agree with other book bloggers that Together would be an excellent book club choice and there is so much to talk about and questions to raise.
This book will stay with me for a long time, make sure that you read it!!

BOOK REVIEW: Where Love Lies by Julie Cohen

Lately, Felicity just can't shake the shadow of uncertainty that has pervaded her life. Her husband Quinn is the kindest person she knows and loves her peculiarities more than Felicity feels she deserves, But suddenly it's as if she doesn't quite belong.
Then Felicity experiences something extraordinary: a scent of perfume in the air that evokes memories and feelings that have been settled deep within her for a long time, untouched and undisturbed. As it happens again and then again, the memories of a man Felicity hasn't been seen for ten years akso flutter to the surface, And so do the feelings of being deeply, exquisitely in love, or is it something else?

Publisher: Transworld

Pages: 368 pages

Where Love Lies is an excellent read, Julie Cohen has written a dark and interesting drama. Felicity is married to Quinn, a newspaper editor, she works from home as a childrens author and they live in a picturesque cottage in a tiny village. Everything is perfect but Felicity has changed and she has begun looking at life very differently. She has always been a little different, one of the many things that Quinn loves about her but her behaviour has become a little concerning. Felicity keeps experiencing episodes where she can smell the scent of Frangipani and this in turn sets off memories of a past relationship with her first love. At the end of these episodes Felicity is left feeling euphoric with love but not with her husband. She leaves the marital home to take some time to explore these feelings; she knows she is hurting Quinn but she also feels like he deserves so much more than her. What is causing these episodes and can she ignore them for the sake of her loving husband?
It's hard to review this book without giving the plot away and I don't want to as it's such a good one. Julie Cohen throws in some particularly good plot twists though, one at the end literally made me gasp out loud.
Felicity is a very complex character, I was still undecided by the end of the book as to whether I liked her or not. She has no control over the episodes she is having but I didn't necessarily agree with the way she dealt with it. I think this was partly because I felt quite protective of Quinn who was an extremely likable character. I felt as though he was constantly treading a thin line between protecting Felicity and giving her room to be herself.
Where Love Lies is an emotional read, you can really feel the turmoil that Felicity is in and her confusion as to why. Feelings are a huge part of the book, Julie Cohen explores what they mean and how they affect us, the ones we should and shouldn't have plus the ones we miss having.
Where Love Lies is a hard hitting drama with an excellent plot, Julie Cohen knows how to shock and enthrall her readers from the beginning to the end.

Many thanks to Transworld for sending me a review copy. 

Book Review: Dear Thing by Julie Cohen

Claire and Ben are the perfect couple. But behind the glossy facade, they've been desperately trying- and failing- to have a baby for years. Now, the stress and feelings of loss are taking their toll on their marriage. Claire's ready to give up hope and get on with her life, but Ben is not. And then Ben's best friend, Romily, offers to conceive via artificial insemination and carry the baby for them.
Romily acts in good faith, believing it will be easy to be a surrogate. She's already a single mother, and has no desire for any more children. Except that being pregnant with Ben's child stirs up all sorts of emotions in her, including one she's kept hidden for a very long time: Ben's the only man she's ever loved.
Two mothers and one baby who belongs to both of them, which only one of them can keep. 

Wow, this book was a real emotional roller-coaster  I have read and enjoyed Julie Cohen's books in the past but Dear Thing was on a different level.
Claire and Ben have been trying for a baby for a long time; when their latest round of IVF fails, Claire is ready to give up. Ben, however, is clinging on to hope that they will be able to have a child. When his best friend, Romily offers to be a surrogate, Ben thinks it will be the answer to all of his and Claire's problems. Romily already has Posie; she's a single mum and has no desire to have another child. She would do anything for Ben but it may have been better to tell him she loves him before offering to carry his and Claire's chid.
Julie Cohen packs so many emotions into this book, Claire and Ben have been through so much, they have been so focused on having a baby that they may have lost sight of each other. Meanwhile, Romily is still getting used to being Posie's mum but maybe she's more of a natural mother than she thought. Will she really be able to hand over this baby after 9 months?
Dear Thing was a really interesting read, I thought it was particularly good as to how Julie Cohen approached the issue of parenthood. Ben, Claire and Romily all have different views on what makes a good parent and at the end of the day they are all right as the most important thing is
that the child is loved and wanted.
Dear Thing is a highly emotive read. The characters were realistic and the relationships between them made the story very intensive. This book is not just about surrogacy but love, friendship and parenthood. Dear Thing will have you gripped from the very beginning and leave you with a lot to think about by the end.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Many thanks to Transworld for sending me a copy of the book to review, Dear Thing is out now.

GIVEAWAY!! Getting Away With It by Julie Cohen

I read the hardback copy of Getting Away With it by Julie Cohen last year and it is published in paperback by Headline today. If you click here then it will take you to my review but here's a little bit about the book:

'Wherever there's trouble, there's Liza Haven...' That's what the villagers of Stoneguard used to say. But when your identical twin sister's the local golden girl, sometimes it's more fun to be the bad twin. 

Now working in LA as a stuntwoman, Liza can be as wild as she wants. But when she loses her job, and almost her life, she's forced to return home. 

Only, things have changed in Stonegaurd and her sister Lee has gone, deserting their difficult mother, a flagging family business and a dangerously attractive boyfriend. What's more the whole village thinks that Liza is Lee.

Can Liza get away with pretending to be the good twin? Or is it finally time to discover who she really is?

I have a paperback copy of Getting Away With It it to give away within the UK. All you have to do is leave your email address in the comment section and tell me what your dream flavour of ice-cream would be (it will make sense once you've read the book!). This competition will close at midnight on Thursday 24th March and I shall pick a winner! Good luck!

Book Review: Getting Away With It by Julie Cohen

Wherever there's trouble, there's Liza Haven. After years of misbehaving in the quaint country village where she grew up with her identical twin sister Lee, Liza escaped to LA for a thrilling life as a stunt woman. But when her job brings her a little too close to death for comfort, Liza has to go back to the one place she couldn't wait to get away from- home.

Only when Liza arrives she discovers that her seemingly perfect sister has run off, leaving behind her ailing mother, a family ice-cream business that's frozen in time and a dangerously attractive boyfriend. And what's ore, everyone thinks Liza is Lee. This is Liza's one chance to see how it feels to be the good twin. She might be getting away with it but there's no getting away from facing up to who she really is...

I have had a rather nasty kidney infection over the past few weeks and this book arrived just at the right time. Getting Away With It has kept me company in many doctors waiting rooms!
Firstly let me say that the cover to this book is lovely, several people have commented on it when it has been spotted lying around my house.
The story focuses mainly on Liza Haven as she returns to Stoneguard but we do gradually get to know Lee too as the odd chapter details what she is up to while Liza is trying to juggle everything and fool everyone into thinking she is her perfect twin sister. It seems that both sisters are running away from certain things and the  book deals with what they are afraid of and whether the answer to their problems is to simply return home.
it was really interesting to see Liza pretending to be her sister, she learns more about herself and the person she wants to be by stepping into her twin sister's shoes. The only person that Liza can't fool is her mother who has appeared to favour Lee over Liza for their whole lives. Liza's mother has Alzheimers and I think that Julie Cohen dealt with this issue so well. The author describes the day to day struggles and challenges of caring for somebody with this condition.
There is an element of romance to this book too, Liza finds herself attracted to Will Naughton, the local aristocrat but she tries to keep her distance as she knows that it would be the ultimate betrayal to steal her sister's boyfriend, but he is very persistent...
Julie Cohen has written a lovely book, Getting Away With It questions what you are running away from in life and to consider that everyone has struggles no matter how calm and content they appear. I would highly recommend this book, you can find out more at Julie Cohen's website.

Many thanks to Headline for sending me a copy to review, the book is published today!