Best of February 2022

It's February - the month of love so its perhaps no surprise that my book of the month was a contemporary (and very funny) love story. Here's my best of the new releases out now.

One Night on the Island by Josie Silver (17 Feb 2022)

When the editor of her dating column asks her to marry herself on a remote Irish island - Cleo agrees. Cleo arrives at her luxury cabin to find a tall, dark, stubborn American who insists it's actually his. Mack refuses to leave, and Cleo won't budge either. With a storm fast approaching, they reluctantly hunker down together. It's just one night, after all . . .But what if one night on the island is just the beginning?

In my opinion: ★★★★★
I LOVED this! I love a 'his & hers' story so enjoyed the alternating chapters of Cleo "the stubborn, surprising English girl" and Mack "the abrasive, beardy American". I loved the characters - both Cleo who was actually really funny (as well as stubborn) and Mack who was actually kind and thoughtful (as well as beardy) and the strong supporting cast of islanders. I loved the storyline which was as much about self discovery as romance; regular people navigating regular life events in a simple, genuine and heart-felt way - some of which really resonated. And, I loved Josie Silver's writing style which is colloquial, relatable and funny but also has real depth - the clever chapter titles were a nice touch too. But, most of all I loved the ending which whilst a happy ending, wasn't the classic fairy tale ending but more realistic and fitting for the characters and their journey. So in case you haven't guessed I totally recommend this and can't wait to seek out more by this author.

The Great Summer Street Party (Part One) by Georgia Hill (3 Feb 2022)

Welcome to Berecombe-by-the-Sea for a year of very special celebrations…the seventy-fifth anniversary of D-Day. All surviving soldiers who were billeted in the town have been invited for street parties, a D-Day parade, a black-tie ball at The Henville and much, much more. Ashley Lyddon arrives in the quaint coastal community feeling more than a little lost. A certain American history lecturer, Eddie McQueen, has also blown into town, just like the GIs did seventy-five years previously.

In my opinion: ★★★★★

It's great to be back in Berecombe although having read "The Little Book Cafe" a while ago I couldn't quite remember all the residents which was a shame. But I did instantly remember the picturesque seaside town, the adorable bookshop and cafe, and the warm-hearted community spirit. Once again I loved the author's writing style too - contemporary yet sweet and wholesome too. My only criticism is that as part one of a bigger story it was over all too soon.

It Could Never Happen Here by Eithne Shortall (3 Feb 2022)

Beverley Franklin will do whatever it takes to protect her local school's reputation. So when a scandal involving her own daughter threatens to derail the annual school musical's appearance on national television, Beverley goes into overdrive. But in her efforts to protect her daughter and keep the musical on track, she misses what's really going, both in her own house and in the insular Glass Lake community - with dramatic consequences. Glass Lake primary school's reputation is about to be shattered...

In my opinion: ★★★★

I chose this because it's being billed as perfect for fans of Motherland which is currently one of my fav TV shows. And it is - just like the show it's an honest and amusing depiction of life as a modern-day mother. For example, one mum says she's glad her son doesn't want to be in the school play because "he's got zero stage presence....He's the only one of my boys I ever left at the supermarket." Or the headteacher who seeking a confession from the children says "I have all day", meaning "forty minutes before the final bell went and she was legally required to send them home."

I particularly liked Christine though whose cat has been stolen but children are told "He was a kitten but now he's a cat and he's decided to move out". She later gets her kids to mark down Mrs Rodger's movements in a notebook before forcing one of them to help her break into said neighbour's house to get the cat back. This I might add is elderly but wily Mrs Rodgers who always remembers "to hunch herself forward - fragility her greatest weapon." I guess humorous parenting is not enough on its own and you still need a storyline but the murder mystery element seemed an odd and unexpected choice, especially the triggering way it panned out. But, just a minor down point in an otherwise brilliantly funny, entertaining and relatable book - and one I'd totally recommend (especially for fans of Motherland).

The Perfect Escape by Leah Konen (3 Feb 2022)

When her husband Harry walks out after just six months, a girls' weekend away with two friends seems like just what Sam needs. But they aren't even halfway to their destination when things start to go wrong. And that's only the beginning. Because there are three things Sam doesn't yet know: 
One of her friends is lying about what happened.

One is lying about who she is.

And one of them will never make it home . . .

In my opinion: ★★★★

This was an enjoyable, easy read with plenty of action, twists and turns, flawed characters, exes and tension. I constantly changed my mind about the various characters, who to trust and who might have done what - feeling empathy for someone one minute and doubting them the next. And, whilst some of the reveals were not wholly unexpected, the final twist was totally unpredictable and cleverly brilliant.

The Boyfriend by Michelle Frances (3 Feb 2022)

A young man disappears during a stag weekend in the woods. Years later, he's still missing. But his friends who were with him that day are still searching for him. Still hunting. They hike deep into the wilderness. With them is missing person specialist Frankie Elkin. What they don't know is that they are putting their own lives in terrifying danger, and may not come back alive . . .

In my opinion: ★★★★

This is a great premise - a woman who after a head injury can't remember the last six months including her seemingly too-good-to-be-true new boyfriend. And, it starts well but becomes quite samey as Amy tries to regain her memory and quite obvious where the story is going with the early introduction of Harry. The biggest twist for me was not the reveal but Harry's u-turn from someone you could sympathise with and understand to someone you couldn't, it wasn't so much a character development or unreliable narrator as a total misfit. In fact the ending in general was deeply unsatisfying and sadly more of a non-ending. Despite being quite critical, I did enjoy the read but it just didn't wow me or quite live up to its premise or my previous read by this author.

Never Work With Animals by Gareth Steel (3 Feb 2022)

Gareth Steel has been a vet for nearly twenty years and has worked all over the UK, across both rural and city practices, dealing with all manner of household pets and farm animals. This is his fascinating raw account of just how involved the job is and the toll the extreme emotions that come with it can take, but it also a heart-warming and often humorous story of the desperate lengths we go to for the love of animals.

In my opinion: ★★★★

I'm definitely more of a fiction fan than non-fiction, but as the only autobiographies I've ever read have typically related to animals somehow I thought I'd give this a go. And, I really did enjoy the various animal stories, particularly the honesty and humour with which author Gareth Steel recounts these patients (and their owners). Although I must admit the intro nearly put me off where author Gareth Steel explains he'll be covering some "difficult, uncomfortable and even distressing issues" - even more so as the first chapter is about one of his first tasks as a newly qualified vet which was to shoot a bull who'd broken it's leg. But with the exception of one chapter pointedly titled "Time to say Goodbye" it wasn't as emotional as I feared. It was however a bit heavy going at times. Designed to "inform and provoke thought" some of the veterinary explanations were a little to scientific and some of the ethical and political discussions a bit too ranty for me. Overall a fascinating insight into the highs and lows of a life as a vet.

Breathless by Amy McCulloch (17 Feb 2022)

When struggling journalist Cecily Wong is invited to join an expedition to climb one of the world's tallest mountains, it seems like the chance of a lifetime. As their small team starts to climb, things start to go wrong. There's a theft. Then an accident. Then a mysterious note, pinned to her tent: there's a murderer on the mountain. The higher they get, the more dangerous the climb becomes, and the more they need to trust one another.

In my opinion: ★★★

I totally agree with main character Cecily who said: "So many mountains, so many stories, so many egos, so many beards." It was hard to keep all the various 'bearded' characters straight especially at the beginning and much of the mountain 'stuff' was overly and unnecessarily technical for me. The storyline was unique and gripping to start but then became a bit slow going (much like the climb) before finally unfolding into a dramatic but rather bizarre and disappointing end. A great premise which sadly didn't quite deliver for me.