Best of September 2022

It's September and time for the latest novels from some of my favourite authors and series including Sophie Cousens and Jessica Redland's Hedgehog Hollow series.

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens (29 September 2022)

Audrey is marrying Josh; steady, dependable Josh, the love of her life. But romance should be full of fireworks, and as the big day approaches, Audrey's found herself wondering if Josh really is 'the one'. So, when Josh's sister Miranda arrives at their rehearsal dinner with Fred - Audrey's 'What If?' guy, the man she met six years ago and had one amazing day with but never saw again. And when everything that could go wrong with the wedding starts to go wrong, Audrey has to wonder: could fate be trying to stop her from making a huge mistake?

In my opinion: ★★★★
This is the story of head-in-the-stars Audrey who is about to marry down-to-earth Josh - that is until her wedding is plagued by bad omens from dead bats in the church and suicidal cake toppers to poorly vicars and unravelling wedding dresses. Some of these situations are definitely over the top but good comedy value and necessary for the plot as they lead Audrey to wonder if she should be marrying Josh - particularly when an ex turns up. It's cleverly written over multiple 'Before I Do' and post 'I Do' timelines brilliantly conveying the complementary differences of Audrey and Josh's personalities and how our romantic experiences (both ours and others, good and bad, realistic and rose-tinted) shape our relationships. There's a fun supporting cast of friends and family too and I loved the epilogue(s) especially the one 50 years into the future. So, all-in-all another brilliant book from this author. 

Friends Don't Lie by Nell Pattison (29 September 2022)

My name is Isabella Butterworth. Your name is Isabella Butterworth. We’re around the same age. We live in the same town. But your life is more exciting than mine, isn’t it? Imagine if I’d never found out about you…But I have. Because someone mistook me for you. And now I can’t stop thinking about you because I know you’re in trouble. You need my help. And I need a way to get to know you. To save you. To be you…

In my opinion: ★★★★
I really enjoyed this very intricate and complex plot. There were so many different aspects - stalking, a death threat, a brother in prison, new identities - and the author did a brilliant job of weaving them all together and continually evolving the story. Whilst I got the overall jist, I must admit that I'm not sure I totally followed it all in terms of Izzy and Jenny/Caroline and who was who. Whilst there's not actually many characters, the fact that they all either have the same real name and/or have adopted a false identity was somewhat confusing, especially when you layer on multiple twists and turns. I also would've liked a different ending. But that said neither of these things affected my overall enjoyment of this compelling read.

Christmas Miracles at Hedgehog Hollow by Jessica Redland (6 September 2022)

It should be the most wonderful time of the year for Samantha and Josh as they prepare for the arrival of their first baby. But life at Hedgehog Hollow rarely goes to plan. Fizz's job at the heart of the rescue centre is a dream come true but her personal life is more like a nightmare. With her love life a disaster and her past about to dramatically catch up with her, she needs the love and support of her Hedgehog Hollow family more than ever. As the snow falls over Hedgehog Hollow, will Samantha and Fizz find the Christmas miracle they need to overcome their heartache and find happiness?

In my opinion: ★★★★
I absolutely love this series and wonderful characters and am gutted that this was the last one. It's always great to catch up with the different much-loved characters and read about cute hedgehogs and animal rescues. And as a finale it was great to see everyone get their happy endings and know how things have worked out but I must admit I didn't enjoy this storyline as much as usual. With much of it taking place in a hospital and a backstory of sexual child abuse it had a heavier, less feel-good vibe. Nonetheless an amazing series that I'll totally miss and so was glad to hear that Hedgehog Hollow may live on with cameos in Jessica's other series and books.

The Bachelorette Party by Carissa Ann Lynch (2 September 2022)

New Orleans: live music, endless drinks, brightly-coloured attractions, the perfect place for a party. The bachelorette begins on a Friday night; all six women are excited for a chance to escape their everyday lives. But then friendly rivalries turn vicious, and a game of truth or dare turns deadly. By the end of the weekend one of them will be dead…

In my opinion: ★★★★
This was a quick and easy read, a fun whodunit. I enjoyed that it started with a murder, you just don't know whose. So not only is it a case of trying to guess the perpetrator but also the victim - and each could have been any one of the six bachelorettes. I also liked the alternating chapters following each character: Rosalee the people-pleasing bride, the disapproving mother-in-law, the wayward sister-in-law, the bossy best friend, too-good-to-be-true Georgia the groom's best friend and the weird cousin - again each with their own secrets, dramas and motivations. The reveal and motive were a bit underwhelming however. 

The Murder Weekend by Jilly Gagnon (6 September 2022)

Welcome to the Crooner Estate. We know your stay will be deadly fun. A remote hotel. A murder mystery. A missing woman. Everyone has a role to play, but what's real and what's part of the game?

In my opinion: ★★★
This was a brilliant premise - a murder within a murder mystery weekend. Trying to work out what was real and what was part of the game was fun - and should've been enough but the author over-complicated things with lots of side drama. As well the murder mystery (real and pretend) it was also a bit of a domestic drama with a lot of time spent analysing the state of the main character's marriage. These bits distracted from the main plot as well as being pretty repetitive and slow especially when combined with the author's very descriptive way of writing. In short, this novel had a lot of promise but rather deviated from the murder mystery.