REVIEW: The Switch by Beth O'Leary

I'm delighted to share my review of the latest novel by an author I've wanted to read for ages, Beth O'Leary. Such an original and hilarious concept for a story with a great cast of lovable characters - I totally recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Quercus Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 16 April 2020

The 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?

The Review
I loved the concept of this - 79-year-old Eileen swopping life in a Yorkshire village with that of her granddaughter Leena, who's in her twenties and lives in London. It was such an original idea and one which provided almost limitless opportunities for cross-generational and situational humour. Thankfully it was also one that delivered and was as good as the blurb suggested. 

It has the predictability and formulaic approach of most romcoms ie resolutely single girl falls for conveniently local, hot, single guy or two people that seemingly can't stand each other fall in love. There's nothing wrong with that, however, because it's something that works and that I love but the generational life swop gave this romcom a fresh, unique spin. 

As did the amazing cast of characters. It goes without saying that my favourite was obviously Eileen - a fiercely loyal, kind-hearted and enigmatic pensioner with lots of attitude, a quick wit and a blunt honesty that was hilarious. I was totally invested in her story, reading with a mix of admiration and protectiveness as she threw herself into online dating in London. She was truly inspirational and I can only hope that I'm like her when I'm her age. 

The side characters were just as lovable as the main ones and really involved in the story. Again I particularly loved Arthur, Eileen's crotchety, nosy neighbour. Who forms an unlikely friendship with Leena. The plot is similar, in that alongside the core storyline there's plenty of other things and sub-plots going on involving the supporting cast. 

Beth O'Leary is a brilliant storyteller, capturing the idiosyncrasies of the characters and British life perfectly with her trademark observational humour. Her portrayal of village life where everybody knows everybody's business versus London where people are immediately suspicious of anybody who tries to make eye contact let alone strike up a conversation. 

I would say, however, that I found the alternating narrative slightly confusing at times as both characters were so interlinked in terms of their back stories, supporting cast and life swop that sometimes I had to double-check whose chapter it was. Not that it detracted from my enjoyment but I also found it slightly repetitive. Both characters needed a life change as they struggled to cope following the death of a family member, hence the life swop. And, whilst this was important and the catalyst for the entire story we were unnecessarily reminded of the fact again and again. 

I really enjoyed this though, giving it a 4.5 rating, rounded up to 5 stars.

The Author
Follow @OLearyBeth or find out more at www.betholearyauthor.com

REVIEW: Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

I'm delighted to share my review of the fifth psychological thriller by one of my favourite authors, Ruth Ware. Another compulsive read that like main character, Rowan, had me lying awake at night on high alert for strange noises.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Random House UK, Vintage Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Published: August 2019 (Paperback 2 April 2020)

The blurb 
Their dream house will become her worst nightmare…

When she stumbles across the advert, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss: a live-in nanny position, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten by the luxurious ‘smart’ home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare – one that will end with a child dead and her in a cell awaiting trial for murder. She knows she’s made mistakes. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty – at least not of murder. Which means someone else is.

The Review 
I love author Ruth Ware - she is the absolute master at crafting a disturbing, sinister atmosphere. This one was quite similar to one of her other books 'The Death of Mrs Westaway' with a large, isolated, old house providing the perfect ghostly setting for unexplained noises and things that go bump in the night. The mood created is so realistic that main character, Rowan, wasn't the only one lying awake at night - I too was terrified to sleep. Not to self don't read Ruth Ware alone in the house at night. 

The premise of this book was a nanny in prison awaiting trial for the murder of one of the four children she'd been employed to look after. In fact the entire book was one (very long) letter from Rowan to a potential solicitor pleading them to take her case and trying to convince him of her innocence by describing the events leading up to the child's death. However, refreshingly for a main character, Rowan is not always likeable - she's a nanny who doesn't like children and therefore has an ulterior motive for accepting the job. 

Aside from the haunted house and ghostly going-ons this was full of creepy elements. The house might have been old but fascinatingly it was also a 'smart house with the parents able to watch the children (and nanny) via the cameras installed in every room of the house, turn lights on and off remotely, and control things via their voice or phone. And, it wasn't just Rowan who less than perfect, most of the characters were dark and mysterious - none more so than second child Maddie who seemed possessed at times. 

But, it is these elements and the skilful telling that made this completely compulsive. I was completely hooked from start to finish. With the author's clever telling throughout you're just focused on reading a gripping narrative and it's only afterwards that you realise that in fact every detail and word is completely relevant to the plot. 

Some have criticised the ending. For me it worked but it wasn't quite what I was hoping for. Not that I guessed it - because I didn't - but that it was fairly straightforward and slightly unimaginative. It felt like the easy option rather than the dramatic expose I was expecting from the author. To be honest I also didn't completely understand it, not the reveal but more the epilogue, as it was a bit ambiguous. 

The ending didn't detract from my enjoyment of this. Once again its another 5 stars from me for this latest offering by one of my favourite authors.

The author
Follow @RuthWareWriter or find out more at ruthware.com

REVIEW: Aria's Travelling Book Shop by Rebecca Raisin

I'm delighted to share my review of the latest novel by self-confessed bibliophile Rebecca Raisin. An easy, light-hearted read with a nice storyline but slightly repetitive and lacking something special.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher HQ for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 8 April 2020

The blurb 
Aria Summers knows what she wants. A life on the road with best friend Rosie and her beloved camper-van-cum-book-shop, and definitely, definitely, no romance.

But when Aria finds herself falling – after one too many glasses of wine, from a karaoke stage – into the arms of Jonathan, a part of her comes back to life for the first time in years.

Since her beloved husband died Aria has sworn off love, unless it’s the kind you can find in the pages of a book. One love of her life is quite enough. And so Aria tries to forget Jonathan and sets off for a summer to remember in France. But could this trip change Aria’s life forever…?

The Review
Consisting of all my favourite ingredients - love, friendship, adventure and entrepreneurship - this could've/should've been my perfect book but it just wasn't. 

Rather than inspiring this was very repetitive. Main character Aria lost her beloved husband to cancer and now lives and works in a camper van travelling wherever and whenever she pleases selling her books along the way. These were two main themes to the storyline that of opening yourself up to love again after tragedy and van life. Both of which were wonderful themes but we were literally reminded of them every single chapter or paģe which became very tiresome after a while.

There were some funny bits such as Aria's not so inconspicuous appearance at her love interest, Jonathan's, author talk. But, overall this is best described as 'nice - the storyline is fairly unremarkable, the characters fairly ordinary and the romance rather lukewarm, it's also pretty predictable. This is the second in the series, it works as a standalone but maybe had I read the first I would've been more brought into the characters.

It's an easy, light-hearted read with some pleasing aspects but at the same time it's definitely not a must-read in my opinion.

The author
Follow Rebecca Raisin on Twitter or find out more at www.rebeccaraisin.com

REVIEW: You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

I'm delighted to share my review of the latest novel by best-selling authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen because I loved it! It was unique, smart, addictive, intriguing and most of all entertaining.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Pan Macmillan for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Published: 3 March 2020

The blurb 
You probably know someone like Shay Miller. She wants to find love, but it eludes her. She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end. She wants to belong, but her life is becoming increasingly isolated.

You probably don’t know anyone like the Moore sisters. They have an unbreakable circle of friends. They live a life of glamour and perfection. They always get what they desire.

Shay thinks she wants their life. But what they really want is hers.

The Review
I loved this - it was unique, smart, addictive, intriguing and most of all entertaining. It had me hooked right from the start with its all-female cast of super smart, badass women and exciting storyline. 

You can't help but like and slightly identify with main character Shay, who with her geeky personality and analytical brain is smart but also introverted and not people-smart. I mean we've all been there at one time or another wanting to be liked, feeling lonely as friends couple up or settle down, or hoping someone else's luck will rub off on you. It's Shay's loneliness that makes her an easy target for the Moore sisters' vigilante group. And, this story follows the sinister turn her life takes after meeting the sisters. 

Like Shay I couldn't help but be drawn to the sisters, Jane and Cassandra, too. Even via the pages their effortless confidence, glamour and sociability was magnetic. And, while undeniably bad girls you can't help but think of them as modern-day Robin Hoods out there acting like vigilantes to bring justice - initially anyway.

And, that's the thing this is so full of twists and turns, mind games and suspense from start to finish. Chapters alternate between Shay, the sisters and other members of the group to give you varying points of view and a continuous trickle of new information. Each chapter is short, to the point and typically ending with a bit of a cliff-hanger or twist that leaves you wanting more and racing on to the next chapter - like binge watching a box set or TV series. The authors are also masters at using crafty word play, half-truths and missive text to thoroughly deceive. And, as such I really didn't see the big reveal coming despite the fact that it had been hinted at numerous times beforehand.

The fascinating facts, aka entries from Shay's data book, were also an inspired touch. I mean who knew that the average person will walk by sixteen killers during the course of their lifetime? Or that one in seven people trust their gut to make a decision, whilst one in ten never do? 

Whilst Shay's character was developed beautifully, I would've liked stronger development of the other women to get a better feel for their motivation. Perhaps because of this the other members of the group, aside from the sisters, seemed a bit irrelevant and almost unnecessary in the end. 

As with many thrillers, some suspension of disbelief is necessary but enjoy it for what it is - a crazy, edgy, riveting thriller. For pure page-turning entertainment it's a five-stars from me.

The author
Follow @greerkh and @sarahpekkanen or find out more at greerhendricks.com and sarahpekkanen.com

REVIEW: The Secret Seaside Escape by Heidi Swain

I'm delighted to share my review of the latest novel by one of my favourite authors, Heidi Swain. And, she's done it again - another delightful read with charming characters, a perfect setting and heart-warming storyline.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Simon and Schuster UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 30 April 2020

The blurb 
Tess Tyler needs a break. Weighed down by her high pressure job and her demanding father, she's left little time to take care of herself. But after a shocking discovery sends her spiralling, she flees to Wynmouth, the seaside town she feel in love with as a child, to escape it all.

As she grows ever closer to local barman Sam, she dares to dream she might never return to her real life. But, when a familiar face returns to town, Tess realises that there are secrets in Wynmouth too, and that her own past may be about to catch up with her....

The Review
Heidi Swain is one of my all-time favourite authors and I've devoured everything she's written so far. So, I was really excited to read this but also nervous because with a much-loved author your expectations are high and so there's always a small risk that the latest offering might not be quite as good you're hoping. I needn't have worried though as this was another hit. 

It has all the usual delights you'd expect from a Heidi Swain novel - charming characters, a perfect setting and heart-warming storyline. This one is set in a new location - the Norfolk seaside village of Wynmouth - but Heidi's trademark effortless writing style and vivid descriptions once again had me falling in love with the place and wanting to up sticks and move there. 

Whilst still a charmingly warm, feel-good read, as per her last book, this one also highlighted a variety of important topical issues - in this case mental health of farmers and environmental beach cleans. Likewise the back stories of the characters were interesting and relevant from the tragic effects of teenage high jinks to hiding your sexual orientation. But, for me the best storylines were still the ones about friendship, community spirit, family and new beginnings. 

My only disappointment was that it ended too soon - I really wanted to know what's next for main character Tess after leaving her stressful PR career. That said hopefully they'll be another in the series and so I've no doubt that we'll get to find out at some point. Personally I also didn't like the surprise twist between Hope and Tess as I thought it was too much of a coincidence and unnecessary in an already plentiful plot. 

Another great book and one I'd totally recommend.

The author
Follow @Heidi_Swain or find out more at www.heidiswain.co.uk.

REVIEW: Three Perfect Liars by Heidi Perks

Another addictive read from Heidi Perks with an unexpected twist that I really didn't see coming. Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Random House UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

Expected: 30 April 2020

The blurb 
When a body is pulled out of an office fire, three women are first in line for questioning. All of them have reasons for wanting revenge against the company’s CEO.

It could be Laura, who has returned to work to find that her maternity cover isn’t leaving. The CEO insists he’s doing what’s best for the company. Laura isn’t convinced he’s telling the truth.

Or there’s Mia. Brought in as temporary cover for Laura, she has quickly made herself indispensable – and popular with her colleagues. But if people knew why she was so desperate to keep her job, they might not welcome her so freely.

Then there’s Janie, wife to the CEO, who gave up her courtroom career to support her husband and his business. She has her own secret to protect – and will go to any length to keep it safe.

The Review 
Heidi Perk's first book 'Now You See Her' is one of my favourite ever books, so I was really excited to read this - her third book. This was another addictive read with an unexpected twist that I really didn't see coming. 

The narrative is split between pre-fire, with chapters written from the point of view of one of the three 'liars, and post-fire in the form of police interviews with the various members of the company. Unlike their colleagues, all of whom were either team Laura or team Mia, my allegiances and sympathies switched regularly between all three main characters, as regularly perhaps as the narrative revealed different things about each of the women. 

The back stories of these three were also cleverly and unexpectedly woven together. And, I also really enjoyed the sub plot of previously work-obsessed Laura's return to work after maternity leave. Laura's conflict of feeling like she needed to work even harder to prove herself, as Mia had been doing such a great job in her absence, whilst struggling with the guilt of leaving her son and the realisation that perhaps work wasn't her number one priority anymore. 

Sadly, though once the connections were revealed the motives and plotting seemed a bit forced, which was a great shame in an otherwise addictive plot. I'd also say this was well-paced rather than fast-paced and more about the slow build-up to an unpredictable reveal. It was definitely an intriguing and captivating read but for me somewhat lacked the drama and suspense of 'Now You See Her' disappointingly. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this and would totally recommend to anyone. Whilst it might sound like I've been slightly critical of this it's only because I loved 'Now You See Her' sooo much.

The author
Follow @HeidiPerksBooks or find out more at www.heidiperksauthor.co.uk