BOOK CLUB #3

It’s been a rather long time since I came at you with a book review or two or five…
I set myself a challenge this year to read 12 books in 12 months and so far I am completely on track with that which I am not so quietly rather smug about indeed.
I love reading, I really do and I’ve been quite the avid reader on and off throughout my lifetime. I love the escapism that reading has, for me especially; there really is nothing else like it for completely switching off my brain, snuggling down and relaxing with a good book.
If you’re keen for more then do check out my previous book review blogposts here and here and stay tuned over on my Instagram for mini reviews as I go. There is a books highlight over there that is updated as and when I finish a book. I’ve actually just finished number 6 of the year and it may well be the best yet… But more on that next time or over on Instagram if you’re keen. As always do leave any recommendations you have below as I'm always looking for a new read or two and if you've read any of the books mentioned lets discuss them in the comments below.

Paper Aeroplanes by Dawn O’Porter
So the first book of the year was Paper Aeroplanes by Dawn O’Porter, a book my sister recommended to me (deffo follow her on Instagram for tonnes of reading inspo) and one I devoured quickly during my low point in January. I read the majority of this whilst feeling sorry for myself in the bath yet despite that I really enjoyed it.
It’s a super easy read about friendships in your teenage years with gorgeous characters that I truly connected with. I related with this book on so many levels due to the accurate representation of female friendships during your teenage years at high school. Whether they’re good friends or bad friends this book covers them all so wonderfully that I feel it would be impossible not relate to at least one of the characters within the book. It’s funny in parts, poignant in others and extremely powerful from start to finish, I loved it.
4/5

The Woman Before Me by Ruth Dugall
Next was The Woman Before Me which was suggested on Amazon after my thriller binge reading of 2018. I was excited to get stuck into this one as I’d enjoyed many-a-thriller recently and after Paper Aeroplanes, however much I loved that book, I was excited to get into something a little more disturbing.
Disturbing is exactly what The Woman Before Me was, a story about love, about motherhood, about obsession, it’s a juicy one to say the least.
The plot is told from a variety of angles but for the most part from the main character Rose’s diary whilst in prison.  It has many twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat but I think unlike most who have read this book, I didn’t absolutely love it, I found it okay, but not the best thriller I’ve ever read before I must admit.
2.5/5

The Visitors by Catherine Burns
Now this was a thriller that I did enjoy albeit a little slowly to start with.
The Visitors is about middle-aged spinster Marion who lives with her older, controlling brother John. They have both had a rather troubling upbringing but Marion, who still sleeps with a bed full of teddybears chooses to shut everything out, rarely leaving the house, never meeting anyone new and simply dotes on her older yet possessive, angry and domineering brother.
But her brother has a secret, a dirty secret of which Marion struggles to keep a grasp of.
Deffo check this one out if you’re into thrillers that build and that aren’t overly obvious, I really enjoyed it.
3.5/5

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez.
I bought this book whilst browsing in Waterstones. I was feeling a little bit low at the time and was so completely grateful to have my little dogs Peter and Nancy in my life to cheer me up. When I saw the title of this book and read the blurb I knew it would be something I could completely relate to right now in my life.
The story of Apollo, a gorgeous Great Dane dog, is beautiful and I totally loved learning about this dog and his love for his owner and in turn struggle to deal with the loss of said owner.
It was beautifully written and something I could relate to on every level through feeling so very in love with my own dogs.
However, that’s where it stopped. The parts within the book that weren’t about Apollo I didn’t find all too engaging or interesting and to be perfectly honest had to jog my memory whilst writing this review.
I read it from cover to cover whilst in the hairdressers one day and I did enjoy it, but I found myself itching for more Apollo and less of the filler.
3/5

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan.
Where do I start with this one, a book I truly LOVED and a book I’d been desperate to read for so so long. I’ve not read a book like this, one where I actually laughed out loud whilst reading for a very long time. I adored all the characters and felt that Kwan did an incredible job at bringing each one of them to light, despite there being 1368275983408543 different characters throughout the book.
Crazy Rich Asians is based around three Asian Families, all of which come from A LOT of money. It explores the intricacies of the relationships within an Asian Family filled with tonnes of drama, love and LOL worthy moments.
I loved reading through the narrative of each individual characters and learning more about the Asian culture and language.
4/5