Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes

Meet Rachel Walsh. She's been living it up in New York City, spending her nights talking her way into glamorous parties before heading home in the early hours to her adoring boyfriend, Luke. But her sensible older sister showing up and sending her off to actual rehab wasn't quite part of her plan.

She's only agreed to her incarceration because she's heard that rehab is wall-to-wall jacuzzis, spa treatments and celebrities going cold turkey - plus it's about time she had a holiday.

Saying goodbye to fun and freedom will be hard - and losing the man who might just be the love of her life will be even harder. But will hitting rock bottom help Rachel learn to love herself, at last?

We read this as Tsundoku Squads March group read. This was also my first Marian Keyes book (I know right!). I actually really enjoyed it. To be honest the last couple of weeks I lagged behind reading it, and could only manage little bursts whenever I did pick it up, which I think spoiled it a bit for me, I’d have enjoyed it more if I read each part in one sitting. But, I still liked it and would gladly read another of Marian’s books.

So this book is based on Rachel (obviously), who ‘isn’t an addict’, but very much is. We see her enter the Cloisters, while still not believing she has a problem. She passes her days waiting to meet the celebrities, visit the sauna and be pampered. 

Rachel is a bit of a dick, but she has problems. She is an addict. She is awful to people around her, people who care about her. But I really liked how the book ended, if you have read it you’ll know. And the last line was perfect in my opinion.

I gave it 4 stars, and would happily read more of Marian’s books. Actually, I have the follow up, ‘Again, Rachel’, sitting on my bedside table! 

Check out Em’s group collective thoughts over on her blog emandherbooks.com

Tsundoku Squad 2021 Wrap Up!

Wow, how has it been a year of reading with these fabulous ladies?! We met doing Netgalley November in 2020, and a few of us (13 to be exact) decided to keep going as a book group on Twitter for 2021. But it has went from a group of 13 discussing a book every Saturday, to a close group of friends who now WhatsApp each other everyday, ad I couldn’t be without them now. 

This is what we read together in 2021:

January - Love at the Northern Lights by Darcie Boleyn - 

My Rating ⭐ ⭐  

Group Rating ⭐ ⭐ 1/2

February - Paris by Starlight by Robert Dinsdale - 

My Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐1/2  

Group Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

March - The islanders by S.V Leonard - 

My Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Group Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐1/2

April - Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth MacNeal - 

My Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  

Group Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐1/2

May - Lace by Shirley Conran - 

My Rating  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  

Group Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

June - The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham - 

My Rating  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2 

Group Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐1/2

July - THUG by Angie Thomas - 

My Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  

Group Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

August - The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri - 

My Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Group Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐1/2

September - The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont - 

My Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Group Rating. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

October - The Whistling by Rebecca Netley - 

My Rating  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  

Group Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐1/2

November - The Maid by Nita Prose - 

My Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Group Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2

December - Underneath The Christmas Tree by Heidi Swain - 

My Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  

Group Rating ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐1/2

I can’t wait to see what we have in store for 2022, and I’m sure we already have our first 3 books picked! I love my squad, so here’s a thanks to them for being fab book buddies! Here’s to another year of friendship and reading.

Underneath The Christmas Tree by Heidi Swain

Wynter's Trees is the home of Christmas. For the people of Wynmouth it's where they get their family Christmas tree, and where Christmas truly comes to life.

But for Liza Wynter, it's a millstone around her neck. It was her father's pride and joy but now he's gone, she can't have anything to do with it. Until her father's business partner decides to retire and she must go back to handle the transition to his son Ned.

When Liza arrives, she discovers a much-loved business that's flourishing under Ned's stewardship. And she's happy to stay and help for the Christmas season, but then she has other plans. But will the place where she grew up make her change her mind? And can it weave its Christmas cheer around her heart...?

Underneath The Christmas Tree was Decembers read for Tsundoku Squad, and I couldn’t wait to read it week on week, so devoured it in a few days! I never spoiled it though for my pals, and made notes for each week so I could still chat with them.

This year I found Heidi, and fell in love almost instantly with her books. I have now read 5, and own them all except one! Underneath The Christmas Tree is the second in the Wynmouth Series, The Secret Seaside Escape being the first, but it can be read as a standalone. I’ve been reading them in order though, and I think this one could be my favourite so far! 

I love Ned! He is fighting for the top position of Heidi’s male love interests, alongside Sam from Seaside Escape. There must be something in the Wynmouth water! And Liza was such a great main character. Her bravery going back to Wynmouth, facing things she never wanted to see again. And the grief that came with it all, but the friendships new and old, it all fit into place so nicely. I fell in love with the descriptions of Wynters Trees, the lot, the views, the cabin, and Bandit stole my heart. 

If you love Christmasssy feel good stories, you need to get your hands on this one asap. 

Also head on back to 9th December on my blog, Instagram or Twitter to see the brilliant Q&A Heidi done for our book group at the start of the month.

The Maid by Nita Prose

Molly the maid is all alone in the world. A nobody. She’s used to being invisible in her job at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows and wiping away the grime, dust and secrets of the guests passing through. She’s just a maid – why should anyone take notice?

 

But Molly is thrown into the spotlight when she discovers an infamous guest, Mr Black, very dead in his bed. This isn’t a mess that can be easily cleaned up. And as Molly becomes embroiled in the hunt for the truth, following the clues whispering in the hallways of the Regency Grand, she discovers a power she never knew was there. She’s just a maid – but what can she see that others overlook?

I received a copy of this from the publisher HarperCollins UK on Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This was Tsundoku squad’s November read. I think we all really enjoyed this one and could be a contender for our favourite red of the year.

Molly is such a brilliant character, I just want to be her friend, sit down and have a cup of tea with her. I bet she makes a great cup of tea. So yeah I loved her, and I was rooting for her so hard all the way through. I picked up,a dn so did some of the others, that Molly seems like she’s on the Spectrum somewhere. A lot of things stood out, the not understanding sarcasm, believing in others and being so easily led. My heart went out to her so much, and I wanted to punch stupid Rodney clean in the face. But I loved Mr Preston, he sounds such a happy go lucky guy, and I really liked the background with him and Mollys Gran.

Molly’s grief was well written, and it got me massively. I understood the feeling, as a lot of others do too, but I’ve always struggled with my Grandma not being here, so I felt like I related so much.

What a brilliant book, and I’d definitely recommend it to everyone.

Please check out Em’s collective Tsundoku Squad group thoughts over on her blog emandherbooks.com

Thanks again to HarperCollins and Netgalley for my e-arc.

The Whistling by Rebecca Netley

Alone in the world, Elspeth Swansome has taken the position of nanny to a family on the remote Scottish island of Skelthsea.

Her charge, Mary, is a strange child. Distracted and secretive, she hasn't uttered a word since the sudden death of her twin, William - just days after their former nanny disappeared.

With her charge defiantly silent, Elspeth turns to the islanders. But no one will speak of what happened to William. 

Just as no one can explain the hypnotic lullabies sung in empty corridors. 

Nor the strange dolls that appear in abandoned rooms. 

Nor the faint whistling that comes in the night . . .

As winter draws in and passage to the mainland becomes impossible, Elspeth finds herself trapped.

But is this house haunted by the ghosts of the past?

OR THE SECRETS OF THE LIVING..?

I received a copy of this book from the publisher Penguin Michael Joseph, and netgalley in return for an honest review.

We read this as Tsundoku Squad’s October book, seeing as it sounded spooky and it’s Halloween soon. I gave this 4 stars each week and am quite happy with the final 4 stars from myself.

I enjoyed this story, and it freaked me out a few times, especially when reading it at 12am in the pitch black with everyone else asleep 😂 The lullaby at night in the halls of Iskar, the creepy whistle, the ever so slightly scary dolls, and a child so torn with grief she has rendered herself mute. 

The Island of Skelthsea was described well and I could picture the rocky shores, whipping waves ans utter darkness. All in all it was a good story, not something I would usually read so I was happy I enjoyed it. 

Thanks again to Penguin Michael Jospeh , Negalley, and of course Rebecca Netley for my e-arc.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

In the midst of war, he found love In the midst of darkness, he found courage In the midst of tragedy, he found hope.

Nuri is a beekeeper; his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo - until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape. As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their own unspeakable loss, but dangers that would overwhelm the bravest of souls. Above all - and perhaps this is the hardest thing they face - they must journey to find each other again.

This was Tsundoku Squads August read.

I fell for this book hard and really loved it. Nuri and Afra were such great characters, and they both absolutely stole my heart. 

For me, and the rest of thesquad, I kept thinking this book was set so long ago, but really was set in recent times. And it made it even more so real with the awful things going on today in the real world. The descriptions were brilliant, and the love that poured from the pages was amazing. So many feelings were thrown around in this book, but I loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t yet read it.

I’m hoping Christy Lefteri’s newest book ‘Songbird’ is just as good!

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

My parents didn’t raise me to fear the police, just to be smart around them. They told me it’s not smart to move whilst a cop has his back to you.

Khalil does.

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this is a powerful, gripping and piercingly relevant YA novel about inequality, police violence, 21st century prejudice and one girl’s struggle for justice.

Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she was born and raised and her posh high school in the suburbs. The uneasy balance between them is shattered when Starr is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a police officer.

Now what Starr says could destroy her community. It could also get her killed.

This was the Tsundoku Squads July read, and I had ben looking forward to this one for ages. And boy was it good! I can’t believe I waited so long to read it. 

So the first thing to say about this book is the strength and courage by the main character Starr is amazing. Reading the scenes with her and Khalil in the car being stopped by police were heartbreaking and shocking. I can’t imagine being in a situation like that. 

The very real situations in the story are f from easy reading sometimes, but I fully agree with my other book group gals that this should be on the school curriculum, its so important. I woul love my daughter who is coming up to 13 to read this.

The love in the book shines through massively. Starr’s family are amazing and the bond between her and her uncle is lovely. But hw I loved most was the relationship between Star’s mam and dad. There is a one scene which warmed my heart and it was a simple scene, but showed the true love between the couple. If you read it or have read it, I’m sure you’ll know which bit I mean.

All in all this was an amazing book and I gave it a huge 5 stars. The group also collectively gave 5 stars, which I think was our first 5 star group read! I bought Angie Thomas other book too as soon as I finished THUG, Concrete Rose which centres on Big Mav’s youth, so I’m looking forward to that one.

Check out Em’s collective group review here: https://emandherbooks.com/2021/08/01/the-hate-u-give-angie-thomas-spoliers/

The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham

When Brighton tattoo artist Marni Mullins discovers a flayed body, newly-promoted DI Francis Sullivan needs her help. There's a serial killer at large, slicing tattoos from his victims' bodies while they're still alive. Marni knows the tattooing world like the back of her hand, but has her own reasons to distrust the police. So when she identifies the killer's next target, will she tell Sullivan or go after the Tattoo Thief alone?

This was Tsundoku Squad’s June book, so our 6th read together. 

This was a fast paced, easy to read book. Marni seemed pretty bad ass if I’m honest, I liked her character and enjoyed the tattooing aspect of it, I’m a big fan of tattoos. It was a bit predictable at times though, and I think a few of us guessed certain things at one point or another. Sullivan seems a bit arrogant I though but I warmed up to him a bit throughout.

But it was also a bit gory. There are parts where the Killer speaks, and those are the parts I enjoyed the most. It gave the book an edge I thought, and I honestly thought I’d have given it less stars if those bits hadn’t been there. 

A good read, easy to read (I read each weeks part while I was on the exercise bike!), and I’ll more than likely read book 2 and see if the story carries on.

I gave the book 3 and half stars but rounded up to 4 on Goodreads (as they still don’t do half stars grrr). 

Check out Em’s collective round up and review here: REVIEW

WWW Wednesday 9.6.21

 

Happy Wednesday!

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Worlds and asks 3 questions: What are you currently reading? What have you recently finished? what do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading 2 books at the minute. One is for Tsundoku Squad June read, which is The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham, and the other is A Girl Made of Air by Nadia Hetherington. I’m enjoying both so far and looking forward to seeing where both go!

What have you recently finished?

I finished 3 books within the last week. Heartstopper 4 by alice Oseman which was fab. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, which was so lovely. And Dial a For Aunties by Jesse Sutanto, which was hilarious.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Next up I may read the next Heidi Swain book which is Mince Pies and Misteltoe at the Christmas Market, I know a Christmas book in June, but I really want to get on with her books! And Famished by Anna Vaught is something I’ve been meaning to read since I got it but keep forgetting!

Thanks for looking guys, hope you’re having a good week!

Lace by Shirley Conran

1980. In Manhattan’s most exclusive hotel, four friends come face to face with a young, mega-watt film star. She has a question for them that has brought her from the streets of Paris to the playgrounds of the rich and famous - and it has almost destroyed her…

Kate, Maxine, Judy and Pagan have soared to the top in fashion, PR and interior design. Now they are forced to look back at their lives: their wicked behaviour at school, the building of careers and the breaking of hearts. These women have never questioned their friendship, but now they must answer to Lili.

Lace is the book that every mother kept hidden from her daughter. Originally published in 1982, it is the debut novel from the million-copy bestselling author of Superwoman.

Lace was the Tsundoku Squad Book Group read for May. It’s a biggie at 750 pages, so we split this one into 5 parts seeing as there was an extra saturday in May. We had some great conversations during the month and it brought about a lot of topics we weren’t expecting. 

For starters we thought there would be a lot of sex, one or 2 of the group were a bit dubious going into it, and although there are a few graphic scenes, it wasn’t as much as we thought. The Goldfish was a very unwelcome surprise, and the cellar scene was a bit much.

The book is very outdated in certain ways, but it was advanced for its time in others. We were expecting an old book but it wasn’t what we got. The outdated parts were definitely not something that would be written today, being told to ignore your husband cheating was a big one, waking up to someone erm doing things to you and saying what a lovely way to wake up, I think you’ll find that’s assault. There were a lot of controversial topics in the book, and the opening chapter was a rough one. There was a big part in the middle involving Lily which was hard to read too and I think a lot of the group may have skimmed through that bit. Most of the men in the story are awful, but the book throws quite a surprise at you towards the end.

But there were good themes too, of strong women, beautiful friendships, and a lot of love. We all loved the friendship between the girls, they were always there for each other, fling across countries to help each other. It’s the kind of friendship you want in your life, maybe you haven’t seen each other in while, but you know if something is wrong, you will be there for each other.

There are strong triggers in this book, I won’t go into much detail but if you want to know these they will easily be found. Overall I gave Lace a 3 star, and Tsundoku collective was also a 3.

In the end I wasn’t sure how much I actually enjoyed it, but I did love the fact it brought up great conversation in book group. I’m glad I read it.

Check out Em’s collective group review here https://emandherbooks.com/2021/05/30/lace-shirly-conran-spoilers/

WWW Wednesday 26.5.21

 Today we have another WWW Wednesday. I haven’t read much lately at all so this one won’t be very different from last weeks.

WWW is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Worlds and asks 3 questions. What are you currently reading? What have you recently finished reading? What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

I currently have one book on the go and that is still Summer at Skylark Farm by Heidi Swain. I’m really enjoying it I just haven’t read much this last week.

What have you recently finished?

I finished out Tsundoku Squad May book of Lace by Shirley Conran. It was a strange one, look out for my review next week!

What do you think you’ll read next?

Next I will stay the same with The Twenty Seven Club by Lucy Nichol, Famished by Anna Vaught, and have added The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham as that is Tsundoku Squads June book.

Thanks for stopping by, hopefully I will get more reading done this week! 

 

Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal

1866. In a coastal village in southern England, Nell picks violets for a living. Set apart by her community because of the birthmarks that speckle her skin, Nell's world is her beloved brother and devotion to the sea.

But when Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders arrives in the village, Nell is kidnapped. Her father has sold her, promising Jasper Jupiter his very own leopard girl. It is the greatest betrayal of Nell's life, but as her fame grows, and she finds friendship with the other performers and Jasper's gentle brother Toby, she begins to wonder if joining the show is the best thing that has ever happened to her.

In London, newspapers describe Nell as the eighth wonder of the world. Figurines are cast in her image, and crowds rush to watch her soar through the air. But who gets to tell Nell's story? What happens when her fame threatens to eclipse that of the showman who bought her? And as she falls in love with Toby, can he detach himself from his past and the terrible secret that binds him to his brother?

Moving from the pleasure gardens of Victorian London to the battle-scarred plains of the Crimea, Circus of Wonders is an astonishing story about power and ownership, fame and the threat of invisibility.

I received a copy of this from the publisher Pan Macmillan, and Netgalley in return for an honest review.

We read this as our Tsundoku Squad Books group April book, and we changed it up a little this month. Instead of splitting it into 4 parts and chatting each week, we decided to split it into 2 parts and chat every 2 weeks. To check out Em’s collective group review and her thoughts click this link https://emandherbooks.com/2021/04/25/circus-of-wonders-elizabeth-macneal-spoilers/

I loved this book, like really loved it. I love stories about the Circus (I wouldn’t go to an animal circus and have never been to one), and was pulled into the dreaminess and magic of it all.

The book is 2 different stories, one is sadness and the shame felt of being different, the sadness of being unseen and seen at the same time, then there’s the magic, love and friendship of the Circus and the performers. Nell grew up knowing she was different, and covered herself in long dresses so no one could see the birthmarks. But when her father sells her to a circus to be one of Jaspers ‘freaks’, everyone sees her. 

I loved Nell. Such a loving girl who wanted nothing more than to be seen as normal. I loved how at home she seemed amongst the others in the Circus, how she cared for them. And her love for Toby was so true. I didn’t like Jasper, he was an arse. But it made for a good baddie if that makes sense. The way he treats the performers as if they’re his pets, something he controls and owns was horrible. Yet in a way you feel for him deep down, you get a kind fo understanding of what went on back when he was in the war, and he turned out the way he did.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and if you like stories of the circus then this is definitely for you. I’d love to see a sequel and see where it goes!

Thank you again to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for my advanced copy, no as always the author, Elizabeth Macneal.