BOOK REVIEW: How to Disappear by Gillian McAllister

What do you do when you can't run, and you can't hide?

Lauren's daughter Zara witnessed a terrible crime. But speaking up comes with a price, and when Zara's identity is revealed online, it puts a target on her back.

The only choice is to disappear.

To keep Zara safe Lauren will give up everything and everyone she loves, even her husband.

There will be no goodbyes. Their pasts will be rewritten. New names, new home, new lives.

The rules are strict for a reason. They are being hunted. One mistake - a text, an Instagram like - could bring their old lives crashing into the new.

They can never assume someone isn't watching, waiting.

As Lauren will learn, disappearing is easy. Staying hidden is harder…

Publisher: Michael Joseph

How to Disappear is the first book that I have read by Gillian McAllister and it was fantastic, I will definitely be catching up with all of her previous books. 

Lauren’s teenage daughter Zara witnesses a murder and decides to testify in court. Although the police promise to protect her, Zara’s identity is revealed on-line and now she is being hunted by those she spoke up against. When it becomes clear that there is a clear and direct threat to her life, Zara’s family are told that their only option is to enter the witness protection scheme. They will not say goodbye to their loved ones, they will have new identities and a new home. The problem is that Lauren’s husband Aiden is Zara’s step-dad, he has another daughter Poppy and he can’t leave her. Lauren makes the heartbreaking decision to protect her daughter so she leaves everyone and everything she loves in order to go with Zara.  At first Lauren and Zara are almost relieved to be offered this chance of safety but they soon begin to understand just how difficult living a lie is. It’s so easy to slip up, a photo posted here or a desperate message sent to someone from their old life and they are being hunted again. 

How to Disappear is quite literally thrilling, I felt as though I was holding my breath as McAliister maintains an unrelenting but perfect pace throughout. It is such a brilliant idea for a book and I loved how she added the conflict within the family so that Aiden has to stay and Lauren has to leave everything behind. I really liked Lauren and she felt so realistic, there are several points where she is brutally honest about the fact that she loves her daughter and would do anything to protect her but she is understandably angry that her daughter’s actions have destroyed the life she loved.

I was so impressed by the final few chapters, twist after twist leapt off the page, it was really well done and unexpected. Gillian McAllister has written a truly captivating story, I can highly recommend it. 

Many thanks to Michael Joseph and Netgalley for gifting me a review copy. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Recovery of Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel

Rose Gold Watts believed she was sick for eighteen years.

She thought she needed the feeding tube, the surgeries, the wheelchair . . .

Turns out her mother is a really good liar.

After five years in prison, Patty Watts is finally free. All she wants is to put old grievances behind her, reconcile with the daughter who testified against her - and care for her new infant grandson.

When Rose Gold agrees to have Patty move in, it seems their relationship is truly on the mend. And she has waited such a long time for her mother to come home.

But is she still the pliable young girl she once was? And is Patty still as keen on settling an old score?

Because if mothers never forget then daughters never forgive.

A chilling tale of obsession, reconciliation and revenge from an incredible new talent. Publisher: Michael Joseph Pages: 352 5th March 2020

The Recovery of Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel is a highly impressive debut novel. It is dark, twisted, complex and bound to captivate many readers on its publication. 

Rose Gold was abused by her mother, Patty for years. Patty has Munchausen by Proxy and poisoned her daughter in order to convince everyone that she was seriously ill. Rose discovered the truth and testified against her mother, resulting in her conviction and having spent the last five years in prison. Rose is there to meet Patty on the day of her release, with her new baby, Adam. Is Rose ready to forgive her mother or does she have unfinished business? 

The story is told from Rose Gold and Patty’s perspectives and you are often left considering which of them is the most unreliable narrator? What becomes evident is that  both are a little messed up, partly through abuse and trauma and partly because it’s just how they’re wired. 

The relationship between mother and daughter is complex and Wrobel does a fantastic job of presenting the intricacies of what can be a very volatile relationship. Rose and her mother do not trust each other and this creates huge and palpable tension within the book. They are never fully comfortable with each other and the reader is left to question who will come out on top?

There are some particularly clever and unexpected plot twists towards the end of the book, I did not see the final one coming and I love it when that happens. 

The Recovery of Rose Gold is not one to miss, what a fantastic debut. 

Many thanks to Michael Joseph for gifting me a copy of this book to review, it is out on March 5th. 

BOOK REVIEW: Grown Ups by Marian Keyes

They're a glamorous family, the Caseys.

Johnny Casey, his two brothers Ed and Liam, their beautiful, talented wives and all their kids spend a lot of time together - birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, weekends away. And they're a happy family. Johnny's wife, Jessie - who has the most money - insists on it.

Under the surface, though, conditions are murkier. While some people clash, other people like each other far too much . . .

Everything stays under control until Ed's wife Cara, gets concussion and can't keep her thoughts to herself. One careless remark at Johnny's birthday party, with the entire family present, starts Cara spilling out all their secrets.

In the subsequent unravelling, every one of the adults finds themselves wondering if it's time - finally - to grow up?

Publisher: Michael Joseph

February 6th 2020

I am a huge fan of Marian Keyes and have read every single one of her fabulous books. I always let out an excited shriek when I learn that she has a new one coming out. Grown Ups has many of Marian Keyes’ trademarks which I was glad of but it almost felt like the most honest and tender book she has written. 

The story revolves around the Casey family, Johnny, Ed and Liam are brothers and are very different as are their wives, Jessie, Cara and Nell. Jessie is the one with the successful business and a lot of money so she is the one to arrange the lavish family events that brings them all together. As with all families, not everybody gets on all the time and there is a lot of drama. However, this is magnified when Ed’s wife Cara attends a family meal after hitting her head. Her concussion leads her to deliver some home truths to some members of the family, it provides a wake up call that will shake the Casey’s up, they probably won’t be the same again.

Grown Ups is so, so well done. There are a lot of characters involved but once I had it in my head who was who and how they were all connected then I became completely engrossed in their individual stories. I don’t want to give too much away but Keyes packs a huge amount into this book, we have addiction, love, family, friendships, anxiety, ambition and much more. Using a family unit to explore all of these different issues is an excellent idea as it really strips the characters bare, you can rarely hide things from your own family and when you have a large extended family then issues almost become magnified.

My favourite characters were Nell and Ferdia and the bond that they form, it was handled so well and I loved their parts of the book. Nell is a great character, she has married into the family and her husband Liam is not shaping up to be who she thought he was. But what do you do if you like your husband’s family more than your husband?

Marian Keyes has written openly about her experience of mental health and I felt as though she used her own knowledge and perspective of addiction to offer an excellent insight. One of the characters has an addiction within the book and Keyes presents it warts and all. I liked how she did not tip-toe around the problem but instead showed the impact and consequences it has plus the ways in which it affects the wider family and friends.

Grown Ups is an excellent book and showcases Marian Keyes’ immense talent, I cannot recommend it enough.  Many thanks to Michael Joseph for allowing me to review this book via Netgalley, it is out in February!

BOOK REVIEW: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

'Alice had come halfway across the world to find that, yet again, she was considered wanting. Well, she thought, if that was what everyone thought, she might as well live up to it.'

England, late 1930s, and Alice Wright - restless, stifled - makes an impulsive decision to marry wealthy American Bennett van Cleve and leave her home and family behind.

But stuffy, disapproving Baileyville, Kentucky, where her husband favours work over his wife, and is dominated by his overbearing father, is not the adventure - or the escape - that she hoped for.

That is, until she meets Margery O'Hare - daughter of a notorious felon and a troublesome woman the town wishes to forget.

Margery's on a mission to spread the wonder of books and reading to the poor and lost - and she needs Alice's help.

Trekking alone under big open skies, through wild mountain forests, Alice, Margery and their fellow sisters of the trail discover freedom, friendship - and a life to call their own.

But when Baileyville turns against them, will their belief in one another - and the power of the written word - be enough to save them?

Inspired by a remarkable true story, The Giver of Stars features five incredible women who will prove to be every bit as beloved as Lou Clark, the unforgettable heroine of Me Before You.

Publisher: Michael Joseph

400 pages

October 3rd 2019

I am a big fan of Jojo Moyes and Me Before You is one of my favourite books so I was obviously going to be very excited when I realised that she had a new book out. The Giver of Stars is historical fiction at it’s best and based upon a true story, it will leave you wanting to know more about the women who inspired this fantastic story. 

Alice Wright has left her rather stuffy and unwelcoming home in England to follow her heart and marry Bennett Van Cleve of Kentucky. She finds herself a stranger in a very foreign land with a husband ruled by his father and a rather unwelcoming society. Faced with endless days alone and a husband who seems terrified to come anywhere near her, Alice jumps at the chance to get involved with a new initiative. The Horseback Librarian Program was set up by Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1930’s and the aim was to get literature out within the rural communities. The idea was to share information, encourage children to learn to read and provide education to those who may not receive it in any other form. Margery O’Hare, the daughter of a renowned Moonshiner is leading the way and she recruits Alice with several other women, Izzy, Beth, Sophia and Kathleen. 

For Alice it brings a whole new lease of life, she is out all day on a horse, travelling across wild terrain and encountering all different walks of life. Once she has proved herself she begins to make friends with this small tight-knit group of women and she finally has something that makes Kentucky feel like it could be a home. However, Bennett’s father is against the library from the very start and he has reasons to dislike Margery O’Hare, he sets out to bring them all down, his daughter-in-law included. Events spiral out of control and soon they are all in real danger with the town against them, can they turn it around and continue doing their good work or will prejudice and bigotry finish them off?

I have no idea why but I always avoid books set in the South but I’m so glad I read this one as it was fantastic. I loved the setting, the female characters, the truth behind the story and the many themes that Moyes included.

Each of the women involved in the library have their own story and they are all quite distant at the beginning and a little wary of each other. It was lovely to see these women come together until they become the best of friends and prepared to do all they can to look out for each other. Alice and Margery were my favourite characters, they are both incredibly brave in their own ways and have so much to give, it was very frustrating to see the town turning against them when they are doing so much good.

There is a romantic element to the book which was so well done, both Margery and Alice have love interests but both are hesitant to give themselves to these men for different reasons. The male characters in this book are a real mix, you have some very old-fashioned attitudes as you would expect at this time but two characters in particular show it was a time of great change and hope for women with attitudes changing. 

Obviously this book is about books too and the power they yield, a subject matter I am always happy to read about. At a time when many people did not have any access to education and the only book in the house would be the Bible, the Horseback Library Program was revolutionary. To bring literature and educational materials to rural communities saw attitudes and opinions begin to change. These people are living in real poverty and surviving day to day, it was so lovely to see how these books gave real comfort and a little escapism in what was a very difficult life.

I cannot recommend The Giver of Stars enough, I was totally taken with these women and their story from the beginning. Jojo Moyes is just so good at creating characters that you fall in love with and then spinning a fascinating story around them. I urge you to read this book, you won’t be disappointed. 

Many thanks to Michael Joseph for allowing me to review this book via Netgalley, it is published on October 3rd!

BOOK REVIEW: Then She Vanishes by Claire Douglas

Everything changed the night Flora disappeared.
Heather and Jess were best friends until the night Heather's sister vanished.
Jess has never forgiven herself for the lie she told that night. Nor has Heather. But now Heather is accused of a terrible crime.
And Jess is forced to return to the sleepy seaside town where they grew up, to ask the question she's avoided for so long:
What really happened the night Flora disappeared?

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Then She Vanishes is a well paced and beautifully plotted psychological thriller. Jess returns to the seaside town she grew up in but this time in her role as a journalist. She discovered that her childhood friend Heather is accused of shooting dead a mother and son in their own home. Heather has a tragic past, her sister Flora went missing and her father was killed in a tragic accident at their home. Jess cannot believe that her old friend is capable of murder and her investigation leads her to finally ask questions about the summer that Flora disappeared.
Claire Douglas takes you into the thick of it from the very first chapter, I was so impressed with the pace that she set and maintained. The book flits between the present day and the summer that Flora disappeared. I thoroughly enjoyed both parts of the story and Douglas brings them together so well.
Then She Vanishes is full of secrets, every single character is hiding something from other characters. It's such a clever device as the reader is left guessing and you are never 100% sure who you can trust within the story.
Douglas includes many twists and turns along the way. I worked out a couple but then had the rug pulled out from under me when these were followed by more revelations.
Then She Vanishes is an excellent read that I can highly recommend. It is gritty, addictive and entirely believable.

Many thanks to Michael Joseph for allowing me to read a review copy via Netgalley.

BOOK REVIEW: The Break by Marian Keyes

'Myself and Hugh... we're taking a break.'
'A city-with-fancy-food-sort of break?'
If only, Amy's husband Hugh says he isn't leaving her. He still loves her, he's just taking a break- from their marriage, their children and most of all, from their life together. Six months to lose himself in South-East Asia. And there is nothing Amy can say or do about it. Yes, it's a mid-life crisis, but lets be clear; a break isn't a break-up-yet. However, for Amy it's enough to send her- along with her extended family of gossips, misfits and trouble-makers, teetering over the edge. For a lot can happen in six months. When Hugh returns, if he returns, will he be the same man she married? And will Amy be the same woman? Because if Hugh is on a break from their marriage, then isn't she?
The Break isn't a story about falling in love but staying in love. 

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Pages: 576

Publication date: 7th September

I have read and loved every single one of Marian Keyes' books and I didn't think she could get any better but I was WRONG!
Amy and Hugh are on a six month break, Hugh wants to go travelling to South-East Asia  and whilst he is gone, he wants both of them to behave as though they are single. He wants them to forget about their marriage, the children they are raising and their every day lives. Amy is devastated and angry but she knows she has to let him get it out of his system. When a friend points out that it also means that Amy is on a break  and can do what she likes, she begins to look at the situation differently; what or who would she like to do while he's away?
The Break is Marian's sexiest book; it feels much more grown up than her others. Don't worry, she hasn't gone all Fifty Shades but there are plenty of sex scenes and they are brilliantly done. They in no way feel like they are included to titillate but they are integral to the story and go a long way to show how Amy is thinking and feeling. Hugh going tears her apart and the relationship she has while he is away  highlights the damage he has done and you begin to wonder if they will ever be able to be together again?
Marian Keyes, as usual gets the balance just right in The Break. The emotions are raw and passionate but I also lost count of the amount of times I laughed out loud. Not just a little chuckle but a full on belly laugh! This is why Marian Keyes is one of my favourite authors, she is still a master of this fantastic genre.
The Break is brilliant and I can't recommend it enough; the characters are well rounded, the plot will keep you gripped and the emotions are expertly explored. Do not miss this book!

Many thanks to Michael Joseph for allowing me to review this book via Netgalley.  

BOOK REVIEW: Making It Up As I Go Along by Marian Keyes

Welcome to the magnificent Making It Up As I Go Along by Marian Keyes- A bold, brilliant book bursting with Marian's hilarious and heartfelt observations on modern life, love and much, much more else besides. Such as? You are determined to ask. Well, how about her guide to breaking up with your hairdresser? Or the warning she has for us all after a particularly traumatic fling with fake tan. There's the pure and bounteous joy of the nail varnish museum. Not to mention the very best lies to tell if you find yourself on an Arctic cruise. She has words of advice for those fast approaching fifty. And she's here to tell you the secret truth about writers- well this one anyway.
You'll be wincing in recognition and scratching your head in incredulity, but like Marian herself you won't be able to stop laughing at the sheer delightful absurdity that is modern life- because each and every one of us is clearly making it up as we go along.

Publisher: Michael Joseph

I cannot fully convey my excitement when I saw that Marian Keyes had a new book out. I have read every single book by this fabulous author and I think that Making It Up As I Go Along is going to make her readers very happy.
The book is a collection of articles written by Marian, some have already been published but others have never been in print before. It is perfect to dip in and out of if you wish or devour entirely. I find Marian's writing so friendly and inviting; it is as though she is sitting across the table from you, having a chat.
There were so many moments when I thought 'I'm so glad it's not just me that has happened to' and that is what Marian does best, her honesty is endearing it makes you want to keep turning the pages.
Serious topics are also covered such as Marian's depression and addictive personality, it's so refreshing to have someone just tell it like it is rather than using fancy jargon or trying to paint the best picture.
This is not  a long review as in reality all I can tell you is that this book is simply wonderful, Making It Up As I Go Along is a breath of fresh air and a book that I will revisit again and again!

Many thanks to Michael Joseph for allowing me to review this book via Netgalley.

BOOK REVIEW: Dear Amy by Helen Callaghan

Margot Lewis is the agony aunt for the Cambridge Enquirer. Her advice column, Dear Amy, gets all kinds of letters- but none like the one she's just received: Dear Amy, I don't know where I am. I've been kidnapped and am being held prisoner by a strange man. I'm afraid he'll kill me. Please help me soon, Bethan Avery. Bethan Avery has been missing for years. This is surely some cruel hoax: but as more letters arrive, they contain information that was never made public. How is this  happening? Answering this question will cost Margot everything...

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Pages: 400

I came across this book on Netgalley and I loved the simplicity of the cover and once I'd downloaded it I read it in just under two days.
Margot Lewis lives in Cambridge, she is a teacher at an exclusive girls school and in the midst of a rather messy divorce from her husband who slept with one of his work colleagues. On top of all this, Margot has a column in her local newspaper, entitled Dear Amy, it is an advice column and she is used to receiving all kinds of  letters. However when she opens this one from Bethan Avery she is shocked to the core as Bethan has been missing for years. Police believe that she was kidnapped and murdered, but her body has never been found. Coincidentally a girl from Margot's class has also gone missing; Margot can't help but feel it is somehow connected and she sets out to get to the bottom of it.
Dear Amy was such a good read, it is dark, gripping and extremely clever. Helen Callaghan is my new 'Queen of Plot Twists', the one at the end of this book totally floored me. I felt like I had just worked it all out when the rug was suddenly and spectacularly pulled from under my feet.
Helen Callaghan flits between Margot as a narrator and also Katie, the other girl who is missing. Katie's experiences at the hands of her captor are terrifying and he is a character that you quickly detest.
It is clear from the beginning that Margot Lewis is a character with many layers and it was fascinating to watch the author as she slowly revealed the details of her past whilst expertly tying all the strands of the story together.
I think that Dear Amy is going to get a lot of attention, it is one of the best books I have read so far in 2016.

Many thanks to Michael Joseph for allowing me to review this book via Netgalley. Dear Amy is due to be published on June 16th! 

BOOK REVIEW: This Secret We're Keeping by Rebecca Done

One student. One teacher. A controversial story that breaks all the rules.
Jess Hart has never forgotten Matthew Langley.
He was her first love when she was fifteen; but he was ten years older and her maths teacher at school. It ended in scandal, with his arrest and imprisonment.
Now 17 years later, a 42 year old Matthew arrives back in Norfolk with a new identity, a long-term girlfriend and a young daughter who know nothing of his past. Yet when he runs into Jess, long-suppressed memories of their love affair begin to be rekindled. But with so many secrets between them, will they ever be able to escape the damage they caused before?

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Pages: 480

Publication Date: April 7th 2016

This book was fantastic and I can't quite believe that this is Rebecca Done's debut novel.
Jess Hart and Matthew Langley fell in love with each other. The ten year age gap was not actually the problem; the problem was that he was her maths teacher and she was only fifteen. The inevitable happened and they were torn apart by the scandal. Seventeen years have passed and Matthew is back in Norfolk where he is bound to see Jess again. Life for him is very different; he has a whole new identity, a girlfriend and a young daughter who he dotes upon. But he can't ignore Jess or the past they share. Will Matthew still have feelings for the person he was punished for loving?
Rebecca Done's writing is superb, I loved the many questions that this book raised and I have found myself thinking about it long after I read the last page. I enjoyed the love story between Jess and Matt but just as I was becoming immersed in it, I would then remember their circumstances which would then lead me to look at it differently. Which is right and which is wrong? Did they truly love each other or did Matt take advantage of Jess when she was legally still classed as a child?
It was interesting to observe the balance of power in the relationship, at times I felt like Matthew had all the cards but as the story continued I could see just how powerful Jess was and the influence she had over Matthew.
I found the last few chapters of this book quite shocking which was just brilliant as they took me completely by surprise. Rebecca Done is an exciting new talent, this story was intriguing and powerful, I didn't want to put it down.

Many thanks to Michael Joseph for allowing me to review this book via Netgalley. 

BOOK REVIEW: After You by Jojo Moyes

How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?
Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can't help but feel she's right back where she started.
Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding- the paramedic whose business is life and death and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will's past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future...
For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply and where both changes and surprises await.

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Pages: 416

After You is a fantastic sequel to Me Before You! Jojo Moyes will not disappoint her readers with this next instalment, I read the whole thing in one day. I laughed, I cried and I generally marvelled at what a brilliant author she is.
Louisa Clark is really struggling without Will Traynor. She is still dealing with her grief but also the huge pressure to do him proud. And that is not proving easy. How does she move on? Where is the right place for her and what exactly should she be doing? An accident brings Louisa back home; a home that holds so many memories and connections to Will. The accident also introduces her to paramedic Sam Fielding. But how do you let someone new in when you haven't completely let another go?
I'm not going to lie, I did miss Will but Sam was an excellent male lead. The interaction between him and Louisa was just lovely and natural and so many of their conversations made me smile.
Jojo Moyes tackled the loss of Will so well, she showed the devastating effect of Will's death, especially the myriad of emotions that accompany grief.
I love, love, love the way in which Jojo Moyes creates characters that you want to invest your emotions in, even those that are not particularly nice. Louisa, for me had not lost any of her sparkle; she is one of life's good people and I was rooting for her from the very beginning.
If you loved Me Before You then you have to read After You, bravo Jojo Moyes, this is a fantastic book!

Many thanks to Michael Joseph for allowing me to read this book via Netgalley.  

BOOK REVIEW: The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes

One day, sitting in traffic, married Dublin mum Stella Sweeny attempts a good deed. The resulting car crash changes her life.
For she meets a man who wants her telephone number (for the insurance, it turns out). That's okay she doesn't really like him much anyway (his Range Rover totally banjaxed her car).
But in this meeting is born the seed of something which will take Stella thousands of miles from her old life, turning an ordinary woman into a superstar, and, along the way, wrenching her whole family apart.
Is this all because of one ill-advised act of goodwill? Was meeting Mr Range Rover destiny or karma? Should she be grateful or hopping mad?
For the first time real, honest-to-goodness happiness is just within her reach. But is Stella Sweeny, Dublin housewife ready to grasp it?

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Pages: 544

Publication Date: 6th November

Blimey a lot of people are talking about this book, I was a little frightened to start it. I am a massive fan of Marian Keyes so I was shocked to see a fair amount of negativity surrounding this book in the book blogging world. However, the majority of it seemed to be in the formatting of the proof. It was a little messy and I could see why people got annoyed but I didn't think it was the worst proof copy I have ever read. The formatting paled into insignificance for me though as overall I thought that this book was tremendous.
The main reason I love Marian Keyes is that she writes about real issues, she doesn't sugar-coat and she shows that not every story has to have a happy ending. It doesn't have to have an awful ending just to shock etc but it can have a realistic finale where the main character doesn't get everything they want.
Stella Sweeny is a great character she she is pretty ordinary and then two extraordinary things happen to her; she gets extremely ill but then her illness somehow turns her into a best-selling author travelling the US on several book tours. We meet Stella after all this though when she's down on her luck and back in Dublin. The book then shows exactly how she's got to that point.
A large portion of the first part of the book involves Stella being in hospital and I thought that this was portrayed very well. Marian Keyes showed everything from the sheer terror of being so ill, the boredom of being stuck in hospital and the consequences for the family unit when one person has a debilitating illness.
Stella has a love interest in the book but I don't want to spoil the plot by giving too much away. But I will say that I very much developed a crush on this character as the book progressed and I felt myself getting angry with Stella when she did something that could jeopardise their relationship.
The Woman Who Stole My Life, in my opinion, is a fantastic book. A lot of reviews have said that it is very different to Marian's other books but I can't agree. I felt that it was distinctively Marian Keyes; not in a boring and predictable way but in such a way that you know you are in the safe hands of an excellent author. The book is dark in places but it is realistic and this is balanced out with brilliant humour and wit.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, don't let the negativity about the formatting put you off as it is just the proof copy and you would be a fool to miss out on the finished product.

Many thanks to Michael Joseph for letting me review this book via Net Galley. 

Book Review: Oh Dear Silvia by Dawn French

Who is in Coma Suite Number 5?
A matchless lover? A supreme egotist? A selfless martyr? A bad mother? A cherished sister? A selfish wife?
All of these. For this is Silvia Shute who has always done exactly what she wants. Until now, when her life suddenly, shockingly stops/
Her past holds a dark and terrible secret, and now that she is unconscious in a hospital bed, her constant stream of visitors are set to uncover the mystery of her broken life. And she must lie there, victim of  the beloveds, the babblings and the plain bonkers.
Like it or not, the truth is about to pay Silvia a visit. Again and again and again...

I missed Dawn French's first book A Tiny Bit Marvellous so I wasn't really sure what to expect from Oh Dear Silvia. It was such a good read though, exceptionally witty and observant  with a very poignant edge.
Silvia Shute fell off her balcony and is now deep within a coma. Obviously Silvia is unconscious so the only way we get to know her is through her visitors and in the main it is not that favourable. There are the children who won't even visit and the ex-husband who is still looking for answers as to what happened to their marriage.
I think my favourite character was Winnie who is Silvia's nurse. Whatever she has going on in her own life, she goes out of her way to care for and protect Silvia. It is easy for coma victims to be treated like objects but Winnie is always striving to make Silvia comfortable and dignified.
I think that Dawn French has been extremely clever in setting up the book as she does. Each chapter is from the individual characters' perspectives but we do  not get a chapter from Silvia until the very end. Therefore you have to interpret what each character is saying about Silvia as she is not able to contradict them. The chapters are almost like streams of consciousness and this allows for a great deal of honesty. Silvia's sister Jo is particularly interesting; she almost only wants Silvia to wake up in her presence so that she can take the praise, she is not too bothered about her sister's well-being.
You are very aware of Silvia's presence as people make their visits. I found myself wondering what she would think about what they were saying. Would she be angry, embarrassed, remorseful, content?
Oh Dear Silvia is a very interesting book. Dawn French, as you would expect, writes with plenty of humour but I loved how observant she clearly is about people and their ways.

Dot Scribbles Rating:  4/5

Many thanks to the lovely people at Penguin for sending me a copy of this book to review, Oh Dear Silvia is out now.

Book Review: The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes

Helen Walsh doesn't believe in fear- it's just a thing invented by man to get all the money and good  jobs- and yet she's sinking . Her work as a private investigator has dried up, her flat has been repossessed and now some old demons have resurfaced.
Not least in the form of her charming but dodgy ex-boyfriend Jay Parker, who shows up with a missing person case/ Money is tight- so tight Helen's had to move back with her elderly parents- and Jay is awash with cash. The missing person is Wayne Diffney, the 'wacky one' from boyband Laddz.
He's vanished from his house in Mercy Close and it's vital that he's found- Laddz have a sell-out comeback gig in five days time.
Things ended messily with Jay. And she's never going back there. Besides she has a new boyfriend now, the very sexy detective Artie Devlin and it's all going well, even though his ex-wife isn't quite 'ex' enough and his teenage son hates her. But the reappearance of Jay is stirring up all kinds of stuff she thought she'd left behind.
Playing by her own rules, Helen is drawn into a dark and glamorous world, where her worst enemy is her own head and where increasingly she feels connected to Wayne, a man she's never even met. 

 Marian Keyes is back with a wonderful new book. The Mystery of Mercy Close is a Walsh family book, this time focusing on Helen. At the start of the book, Helen is pretty low, she has no work, no flat and her depression is rearing it's ugly head.She doesn't want to take anything from her ex-boyfriend Jay Parker but she is desperate, so when he offers her a missing person case, she simply can't say no. It's a pretty exciting case;. Wayne Diffney from huge Irish boyband Laddz has gone missing days before their big comeback gig. Helen can't stand to be around Jay, especially now she has found Artie. But can she deal with Artie's family baggage and can he deal with her depression?
The Mystery of Mercy Close struck so many chords with me. Marian Keyes writes honestly and in-depth about depression. Having suffered with depression myself, I greatly identified with Helen and the battle she faces on a daily basis. I think depression and the feelings it creates can be so hard to explain to others but there were so many times when I read this book when I thought yes it is exactly like that.
Whist The Mystery of Mercy Close has a serious side, it still has a huge amount of Marian Keyes humour. Marian Keyes always writes about the serious side of life but somehow manages to create a variety of laugh out loud moments with her characters and the situations she places them in.
I have always been a massive fan of Marian Keyes and I have read all of her books. Keyes truly is a fabulous writer and I do not think that anybody will be disappointed by The Mystery of Mercy Close.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Many thanks to the lovely people at Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of the book to review, The Mystery of Mercy Close is published today!

Book Review: On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves PLUS Author Interview

Anna, a thirty-year old teacher and T.J., who's she's tutoring over the holidays are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when their pilot suffers a fatal heart attack and their sea-plane crash-lands in the Indian ocean.
Marooned on an uninhabited island, Anna and T.J. must work together to obtain water, food, fire and shelter. But as the days turn to weeks, then months and then to years, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who, with each passing day, is becoming more of a man...

This book is extremely exciting; it has spent five weeks on The New York Times bestseller list and film rights have already been sold to MGM. Tracey Garvis Graves has written a book that you will not want to put down so be warned!
T.J. and Anna are marooned on a desert island when their pilot suffers a heart attack. Initially they are certain that they will be rescued but days turn into weeks, months and then years. They only have each other and obviously a particularly strong bond is formed but a fourteen year age gap is quite a big hurdle to get over, no matter how strong each others feelings are.
It's very hard to review this book without giving too much away but I really want to emphasise how much I enjoyed it. Each chapter is either from Anna or T.J.'s perspective which is a brilliant idea as we get to know them both really well and gain an insight into what they are thinking and more importantly what they are hiding from each other.
On the Island was such a different read, it is part adventure and part love story. I was completely captivated by Anna and T.J. and how they would survive.
The only slight criticism I have of this book is the front cover. If I were to see it in a shop then I may not have picked it up as it gives the impression of something much more light hearted. So don't let the cover put you off as what's inside is truly excellent.

Dot Scribbles Rating 4.5/5

Many thanks to Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of the book to review, On the Island is out now!

The very lovely Tracey Garvis Graves answered some of my questions, here's what she had to say:

1. Where did the idea for On the Island come from?

I loved the movie Castaway but could never quite wrap my head around a relationship between a man and a volleyball. I couldn't help but think how interesting the desert island premise could become if there were two people on the island. Two people that really shouldn't have a relationship.

2. The film rights have been sold which is very exciting, will you be involved at all?

Sadly, no. I do have a clause in my contract that gives me veto power if they try to insert any elements that really don't fit with the storyline (I've interpreted that to mean the addition of aliens or dinosaurs or something equally as silly!).

3. If you were marooned on a desert island, what three objects couldn't you live without?

A book (I'd prefer my Kindle but there wouldn't be anywhere to plug it in!), a picture of my family, and a satellite phone so I could call for rescue.

4. I loved the characters of T.J. and Anna, do you think they would have fallen in love anyway, without the shared experience of the crash and the island etc?

No, I really don't. It was the crash and being marooned - and relying solely on each other - that allowed them to form such a bond. Age was irrelevant on the island; there were no societal norms in place.

5. Can you tell us anything about your next book?

Covet is the title of my next book. It's my first foray into upmarket women's fiction (but it will still have plenty of romance). It's the story of a married couple's struggles after the husband loses his job in the recession. It's a story of hope and heartbreak and though it is ultimately uplifting, you should have your Kleenex box handy.

Book Review: Between a Mother and her Child by Elizabeth Noble

For Maggie and Bill it was love at first sight...
One impulsive wedding later and with the arrival of three perfect children, Jake, Aly and Stan, the Barrett family seem to have it all. Until the day their world stops turning.
When Jake dies suddenly, they're swept away on a tide of grief that fractures Maggie and Bill's marriage. She and the children are left clinging to the wreckage of their family. And they need help, because in her grief Maggie is in danger of losing Aly and Stan too.
Enter Kate, housekeeper, companion and shoulder to cry on. She's here to pick up the pieces and fix what isn't completely broken. But can Maggie trust Kate? And why is Kate so keen to help?
When Bill falls for another woman, Maggie realises she will have to fight to put her family back together- but will they still want her?

Between a Mother and her Child is Elizabeth Noble's seventh book and I think it is her best so far. Maggie and Bill's world is torn apart when their teenage son Jake is killed in a tsunami whilst on his gap year travels. Life will never be the same again but life has to go on, especially when you have two other children depending on you. The grief caused by Jake's death leads Maggie and Bill to separate. Maggie's sister from Australia can see that the family is falling apart and enlists the help of Kate; part Mary Poppins and part rent-a-granny; Kate comes into their lives at just the right time. Bill has met another woman and Maggie realises that she may be close to losing Aly and Stan due to the barrier of grief that she has put up around her. Kate will hopefully be able to help but why doesn't she have her own family to look after?
Elizabeth Noble explores the devastating affect that grief can cause within a family. We get to know each member of the Barrett family and see their different perspectives in losing Jake and how it has affected them individually and their relationships with each other.
I thought that the book was really interesting in that Jake's death causes Maggie and Bill's marriage to come to an end but not their relationship. Of course they still have to have contact because of the children but it becomes very clear as the book develops that they still love each other. They may not want to continue their marriage but they must find a way to move on in order to find any happiness in the future.
Elizabeth Noble's writing is very poignant and there were times when I was close to tears. She is so good at giving you all the little details so you feel as though you know the characters completely and this is what kept me turning the pages.
If you haven't read any of Elizabeth Noble's books then I highly recommend them. Between a Mother and her Child is a highly emotional read but worth every page.

Dot Scribbles Rating 5/5

Many thanks to Kate at FmCm Associates for sending me a copy of the book to review, it is out now.