REVIEW: Playing Nicely by JP Delaney

Having absolutely loved this, I am pleased to share my review (and generally just fan-girl) about 'Playing Nicely' by JP Delaney. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Quercus Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 6 August 2020

The blurb 
If you found out that your family isn't yours at all, how far would you go to protect them?

Pete Riley answers the door one morning and lets in a parent's worst nightmare. On his doorstep is Miles Lambert, a stranger who breaks the devastating news that Pete's son, Theo, isn't actually his son--he is the Lamberts', switched at birth by an understaffed hospital while their real son was sent home with Miles and his wife, Lucy. For Pete, his partner Maddie, and the little boy they've been raising for the past two years, life will never be the same again.

The two families, reeling from the shock, take comfort in shared good intentions, eagerly entwining their very different lives in the hope of becoming one unconventional modern family. But a plan to sue the hospital triggers an official investigation that unearths some disturbing questions about the night their children were switched. How much can they trust the other parents--or even each other? What secrets are hidden behind the Lamberts' glossy front door? Stretched to the breaking point, Pete and Maddie discover they will each stop at nothing to keep their family safe.

They are done playing nice.

The review
Wow - I absolutely loved this. It was definitely one of those books that once you start you literally can't stop - a real page-turner.

It's a really difficult book to talk about without spoiling the plot but what I can say is that it was a real roller-coaster. There were so many twists and turns and different elements to this story. The author says in the acknowledgement that he wanted to write about ordinary people who try to resolve a near-impossible situation with compromise and dialogue. And, that's Pete and Maddie - two completely normal people, both with good qualities and flaws, who try to play nicely in the nightmare situation of finding out their son is not theirs, and another polar opposite couple is bringing up their birth son. 

And, you gotta feel for poor Maddie and Pete as they reel from one mishap to another. Granted they bring a lot of it on themselves, but the things that happen to them are all fairly innocuous in themselves and the type of things that could happen to anyone but they take on a different meaning and importance in court. Its a terrifyingly view of how quickly events can escalate into a legal nightmare. For example, in court googling parenting advice is no longer normal, responsible behaviour but can be used as a sign of incompetence. What I liked is that I too read something and thought nothing of it but then later got a feeling of dread as I suddenly realised how it was going to play out just before it did. I was kept in an almost constant state of anxiety as the tension built and built as the story twisted and developed towards its conclusion.

I've not read this author before (I definitely will be in future) but apparently this is quite different to his previous work although I understand his stories are always base on ethical quandaries. And, this one was truly thought-provoking exploring a variety of hard-hitting topics including mental illness, gender roles in parenting, nature vs nurture, and child protection. 

The psychopathy test was a nice touch.....and I'm pleased to say I'm not. But, it was enlightening to understand there's scales of psychopathy and the impact of nature vs nurture on someone's likelihood of becoming a psychopath.

I don't feel that I've done this book justice with my review but as I said it's so hard to explain why it's so good without giving anything away. I will just urge you read it yourself and it's undoubtedly the best psychological thriller I've read this year.

The author
JPDelaney is a pseudonym for a writer who has previously written fiction under other names. Delaney is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Girl Before, which is being brought to the screen. To find out more visit www.jpdelaney.co.uk.

REVIEW: We Are Family by Nicola Gill

Here's my review of the second novel by author Nicola Gill. This was a story of sibling rivalry but in my opinion more of a nice read rather than a must read.

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

Expected: 3 September 2020

The blurb
Laura and Jess are sisters - but that's pretty much all they have in common... Laura has a laid back attitude to life. Her home isn't spotless, and after a hard day she likes to take to bed with a block of cheese.

Jess, on the other hand, is your classic overachiever: The Big Sister, Chief of Chivvying, Queen of the family WhatsApp. Her life is picture-perfect.

Laura and Jess lost their dad when they were kids, and now their mum is gone too. And one of the hardest times in life is made harder by the fact they can't agree on a single thing, from where to scatter the ashes to whether "passed away" is even an acceptable term.

But when Laura starts pushing her own boundaries and Jess agrees to let other people in to her (not so) perfect life, the two women realise they need each other more than ever. They might not be ready to admit it, but family is everything.

The review
For me this was one of those middle ground books where I didn't love it but didn't not like it either.

On the plus side it was a nice enough story - two sisters who used to be close but as polar opposites don't really get along as adults but are forced together again after their mother's death. Through flashbacks to their childhood we came to understand how the sisters had drifted apart and the things that had shaped their adult characters. Despite being told from just one sister, Laura's, perspective both characters were developed really well, flaws and all. It showed how we're not all the same, not all perfect and how different personalities can actually work together rather than against each other. It was also easy reading with short snappy chapters, and I enjoyed the surprise ending which I really hadn't seen coming.

Unfortunately though I found main character Laura really quite annoying (obviously though I did love her hilarious five-year-old son Billy). The thing is that Laura's quite negative with a habit of over-reacting and misinterpreting literally every action or conversation she has with anyone. This is particularly the case with her mum or sister and the cause of all the conflict- although obviously she blames the other person wholeheartedly and never herself. It was also didn't quite ring true that Laura lets everyone walk all over her, taking on extra at work and babysitting so her friend can go shopping despite the fact her mum's just died, but then is selfish when it comes to her sister who's seemingly the only person in Laura's life that genuinely cares about her. 

I also soon became tired of the nice enough storyline as the sibling rivalry and mother's favouritism quickly became repetitive, especially as this was book was really quite long. It was really a succession of busy nothings, such as the hamster escaping, accidentally replying all, a disastrous job interview, etc set against this constant back drop of sisterly conflict. 

I would have preferred many of the minor side-plots, such as sister Jess' online troll or Billy's bully, to have been left out and more time given to the ending of the story which felt rushed. The ending jumped forward eight months meaning that many of the important things happened off-page such as the sisters reconcilling and Laura getting together with Marcus. After such a long build-up it was frustrating to then 'miss out' on all the pivotal moments.

So, all-in-all a nice read rather than a must-read and one I'd recommend for fans of light fiction that prefer an emphasis on character over plot.

The author
Aged just five Nicola Gill knew she wanted to be an author. 'We Are Family' is her second novel. Follow @nicola_j_gill on Twitter.

REVIEW: Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell

I'm pleased to review the latest novel by one of my go-to authors, Lisa Jewell. Whilst not my favourite by this author I still enjoyed this thought-provoking read. However, be warned it did contain some themes that were slightly uncomfortable reading.

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

Expected: 6 August 2020

The blurb 
When Saffyre Maddox was ten, something terrible happened, and she's carried the pain of it ever since. The man who she thought was going to heal her didn't, and now she hides, learning his secrets, invisible in the shadows.

Owen Pick is invisible too. He's never had a girlfriend; he's never even had a friend.
Nobody sees him. Nobody cares.

But when Saffyre goes missing from opposite his house on Valentine's night, suddenly the whole world is looking at Owen.

Accusing him, holding him responsible for Saffyre's disappearance ...

The review
Despite loving the author this one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The story is about a young woman who goes missing and is told from three points of view; Saffyre’s the missing girl with a troubled childhood, Owen a loner, and Cate the wife of a charismatic child psychologist.

As always I loved the author’s distinctive writing style which makes for easy reading. Likewise I enjoy the way she brings lots of seemingly unrelated different strands and characters together quite spectacularly by the end. And, this one had a great cast of interesting and troubled characters with some complex mental health issues that were well-handled by the author, and provided a fascinating sub-context.

Essentially the underlying concept was societal norms where misfits try to be invisible so as not to be noticed whilst truly vile characters simply mask their true nature to walk among us in plain sight. It really got me thinking, especially in these current times, about how easy it is to misjudge someone who’s different. For example, the “odd” loner who happens to be walking the same way as a young woman is creepy but the attractive runner brushing past somebody is overlooked. Although fiction it also depicts a shocking reality where people are shamed by public opinion, the names and life stories of suspects are widely reported and if they later turn out to be innocent well so what.

What I didn’t like, however, was the plot which contained themes that some readers (myself included) may find uncomfortable including rape and sexual assault. I also like a story where things are wrapped up neatly and the ‘bad’ people get what’s coming to them but without wanting to give anything away this one didn’t quite turn out like that. I also thought the epilogue should have been a bit later in time, as having handled the character’s mental health issues so sensitively this was kind of undone by the speed at which they seemed to easily overcome their issues at the end.

The author
British author Lisa Jewell's first book, Ralph's Party, came out in 1998. Since then, she's gone on to write eighteen contemporary novels and thrillers. Follow @lisajewelluk on Twitter or visit www.lisajewellbooks.com to find out more.

REVIEW: Our Story by Miranda Dickinson

I'm pleased to review the latest novel by Miranda Dickinson. Written in my favourite his and hers style, this was a light-hearted will-they, won't they romance.

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

Expected: 25 August 2020

The blurb 
Otty has just landed her dream job. She's about to join the writing team of one of the most respected showrunners in TV. And then the night before her first day, she's evicted from her flat.

Joe has been working with Russell for years. He's the best writer on his team, but lately something has been off. He's trying to get his mojo back, but when his flatmate moves out without warning he has other things to worry about.

Otty moving into Joe's house seems like the perfect solution to both their problems, but neither is prepared for what happens next. Paired together in the writing room, their obvious chemistry sparks from the page and they are the writing duo to beat. But their relationship off the page is an entirely different story, and neither of them can figure out why.

And suddenly the question isn't, will they, or won't they? It's why won't they?

The review
Since reading ‘Come Together’ by husband and wife team Emlyn Rees and Josie Lloyd many years ago, this his and hers narrative has been one of my favourites. I find the way two people, particularly of different sexes, can interpret the same event so differently absolutely fascinating.

Slightly disappointingly though was the mismatch between the two characters development. Whilst, the author really explored Otty’s character and back story, sadly the same couldn’t be said of the male lead, Joe. 

I really enjoyed the writing style and the quick-paced, sharp dialogue of each chapter. I also loved the setting of the writer’s room which not only provided an interesting insight into professional writing but also a highly-pressurised backdrop for the story. And, it was both of these elements that managed to keep my interest in what was otherwise quite a long, samey will they/won’t they storyline.

I don’t think it’s a plot spoiler to say that the whole story was leading to the two characters getting together or not. But, then disappointingly I found the ending a bit abrupt especially after the lengthy long build-up.

So, overall this was a nice, light-hearted contemporary romance with a great setting and smart writing. Not a must-read but perfect escapism nonetheless.

The author
Miranda Dickinson always wanted to be a writer....now she is the author of eleven books, including six Sunday Times bestsellers. Follow @wurdsmyth on Twitter or visit miranda-dickinson.com to find out more.

REVIEW: The Storm by Amanda Jennings

Set in a Cornish fishing village, I'm pleased to review the new novel by author Amanda Jennings. Whilst not quite what I was hoping for, this was a beautifully written dark drama nonetheless.

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

Expected: 23 July 2020

The blurb 
To the outside world Hannah married the perfect man. Behind the closed doors of their imposing home it’s a very different story. Nathan controls everything Hannah does. He chooses her clothes, checks her receipts, and keeps her passport locked away. But why does she let him? 

Years before, in the midst of a relentless storm, the tragic events of one night changed everything. And Hannah has been living with the consequences ever since. Keeping Nathan happy. Doing as she’s told. 

But the past is about to catch up with them. 

Set against the unforgiving backdrop of a Cornish fishing port in the ‘90s, this is a devastating exploration of the power of coercive control in a marriage where nothing is quite as it seems…

The review
This was one of those reads where I was disappointed but unfairly so. Wrongly I was expecting a mystery with plenty twists and turns, plenty of drama and plenty of suspense. But, this was more of a slow burn, domestic drama focused on the psychology of people's reactions to trauma. However, now having read up on the author that is exactly what she's known for so I completely my fault and not a reflection on this well-written story.

The story is told from the point-of-view of Hannah mainly but interspersed with some chapters from Nathan, her controlling husband, and Cam, an ex boyfriend. It also crosses two timeframes; the past where Hannah is a carefree, confident young women, and the present day where she is now a repressed, fearful wife and mother. I loved the contrast between the two and the gradual understanding of how and why Hannah chose such a life.

And, that's the brilliance of this author. At first glance you see a woman controlled by her husband but then realise through the depth of the characters and telling that Hannah is more of a willing 'victim' or player in this story than it would at first seem. She has chosen a path for a reason and uses her intelligence and wiles to control the situation herself as best she can.

So, like I said not quite what I was hoping for but a beautifully written dark drama nonetheless.

The author
Before writing her first book, was a researcher at the BBC. With a deep fascination for the far-reaching effects of trauma, her books focus on the different ways people find to cope with loss, as well as the moral struggles her protagonists face. Follow @MandaJJennings on Twitter or visit www.amandajennings.co.uk to find out more.

REVIEW: One To Watch by Kate Stayman-London

Here's my review of a debut novel by American Kate Stayman-London. Much like reality TV itself this quickly sucked me in with its superficial drama, love/hate characters and intrigue about who Bea would pick as her 'Main Squeeze'.

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

Expected: 7 July 2020

The blurb

Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers--and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show 'Main Squeeze'. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television? 

Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition--under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She's in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful anti-fat beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That's it.

But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She's in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale. In this joyful, razor-sharp debut, Bea has to decide whether it might just be worth trusting these men--and herself--for a chance to live happily ever after. 

The review
Obviously based around reality show The Batchelor, this was a captivating plot as much like reality TV itself it quickly sucked you in with its superficial drama, love/hate characters and intrigue about who'd eventually be crowned the winner aka 'Main Squeeze'. I was hooked trying to work out, like Bea, if any of the guy's were genuine or not, vibing Sam, hating Jefferson and trying not to be charmed by bad boy Luc. Annoyingly though it was also quite repetitive with the constant reminders that Bea is a plus size girl - granted a key part of the story but I'm not sure we needed reminding quite that much.

Kate Stayman-London is an American author and normally that's not something I'd even really notice (perhaps other than the setting) but which was very evident here. Perhaps because it's a very contemporary storyline and narrative but there were lots of modern cultural references that I just didn't understand. Likewise words that I had to look up such as "confucius" and "canonically" - not that it really mattered but I'm just saying. 

It was also written in a very contemporary style with lots of tweet, blog, email and media interview excerpts. I'm not entirely sure how I felt about it. On the one hand it worked with story and made it really believable as it genuinely did feel like something real I was reading about online. But, it was also slightly jarring at times. 

I think this book is probably a bit Marmite - fans of reality TV will love it but if not then you probably won't. I do and so this was a welcome and much-needed entertaining, trashy, escapism.
 
The author
Kate Stayman-London is a novelist, screenwriter, and political strategist. She served as lead digital writer for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and has written for notable figures ranging from President Obama and Malala Yousafzai to Anna Wintour and Cher. Follow @_ksl on Twitter or visit www.katestaymanlondon.com to find out more.

Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up by Alexandra Potter

Having absolutely loved this I'm pleased to share my review of the hilarious new romcom by British author Alexandra Potter. So funny, so relatable and such easy reading. A must-read for any forty-something or anyone whose life isn't working out quite how they'd planned. 

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

Expected: 31 December 2020

The blurb 
Nell Stevens’ life is a mess. When her business goes bust and her fiancé with it, Nell’s happy ever after in California falls apart and she moves back to London to start over. But a lot has changed since she’s been gone. All her single friends are now married with children, sky-high rents force her to rent a room in a stranger’s house and in a world of perfect instagram lives, she feels like a f*ck up. Even worse, a forty-something f*ck-up.

But when she lands a job writing obituaries, Nell meets the fabulous Cricket, an eighty-something widow with challenges of her own, and they strike up an unlikely friendship. Together they begin to help each other heal their aching hearts, cope with the loss of the lives they had planned, and push each other into new adventures and unexpected joys.

Because Nell is determined. Next year things are going to be very different. It's time to turn her life around.

The review

I loved this - probably because like main character Nell I am a forty-something single. Not quite a f##k up but certainly not on the same page as everyone else around me or necessarily where I thought I’d be.

As such I totally related to so many of the themes regarding age, marriage and children, with some of my favourites being:

• “This keeps happening to me now...I read articles about middle-aged people as if they’re my parents or something, and then I suddenly realise – hang on, we’re the same age!”
• “I always feel the pressure to explain why I don’t have kids, in a way I’m not sure women who have children do.”
• “Who can make that kind of promise [marriage] when you truly have no idea what will happen in the next thirty or more years ahead?”

It wasn’t just the life stuff I agreed on but I was delighted to find someone (even if they were fictional) who shares my views on ‘The News’. I hate ‘The News’, religiously turning over the TV if it comes on – much to others incredulity – because it’s all doom and gloom. I know bad things happen but I really want to try and pretend they don’t. As Nell says: “It should be renamed the ‘Bad News at Ten’....one horrible headline after another...There is so much suffering. So much terror and injustice. The refugee crisis, our oceans filled with plastic, climate change, animal cruelty, gun and knife crime...the list is endless.”  

Hopefully I’ve already managed to convey that this funny – truly hilariously funny. There’s funny one-liners: “My theory is that’s why our eyesight goes as we get older: to protect us from seeing ourselves in sharp focus.” But, also plenty of situational humour such as Nell’s attempts at babysitter or dealing with Arthur’s dog-poo.

But, it’s not all laughs. There are some serious messages and life lessons too such as: “Real life is messy and complicated. Shit happens. One size doesn’t fit all....We’re all just living our life, and it might not tick all the boxes or look Insta-perfect, but that’s OK.” Feelings of depression and anxiety were also alluded to as “The Fear” but sadly in this case were somewhat lacking. I felt the topic should have either been fully/properly explored or not included as just the implication didn’t do the topic justice or add anything to the story.

This was set over the course of a year, with chapters denoted by months, which I really liked. It just made the course of events and speed at which relationships developed more realistic and believable than some romance novels where boy meets girl and settles down with her a week later. Unlike some this also wasn’t entirely predictable – I mean it did end up exactly as I hoped and thought but somewhere in the middle it wasn’t a given.

And, finally (gushing nearly over I promise) this had a great cast of characters but even more so was the dynamics between them. In particular “the super fabulous Cricket” was brilliantly entertaining and the friendship between her and Nell touching – different generations but so many similarities. Like Nell at the moment but I really hope I’m like Cricket when I’m in my eighties. Then, there was that well-known situation (like in the brilliant film Bridesmaids) where your best friend has got a new best friend who upstages you at every chance but slyly so your mate continues to think the sun-shines-out-of-her. But, it was the love/hate dynamics of unlikely housemates Nell and Edward that I really loved. 

So, in case you hadn’t guessed I absolutely love this. So funny, so relatable and such easy reading. A must-read for anyone but particularly if you’re too a forty-something or your life isn't working out quite how you'd expected. 

The author
Alexandra Potter is a best-selling British author of romantic comedies. To find out more visit www.alexandrapotter.com