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sony08's reviews
677 reviews

The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The synopsis for this book makes you want to hate Chrissie. She sounds awful, like she knows exactly what she’s doing. I to be fair I felt like hating her myself – bossy, unruly, not a care in the world, a bully to her best friend and others and the list could go on. Just not a nice child – and to top it all off she kills a three year old boy Steven – and it makes her feel powerful. 
And then you get introduced to Julia – grown woman with a little girl called Molly – and absolutely terrified of losing her. When she starts getting phone calls and Molly gets hurt and social worker arranges an appointment, Julia panics and leaves for her hometown, where her mother moved back to whilst she was in a children’s home (instead of prison). 
The book alternates the story of eight year old Chrissie and those parts are written in a simpler language that Chrissie would use at that age – it’s a clever way to make the story more authentic. So we find out more about her life as a small child, while adult Julia visits her old home town and decides what to do next. 
I can’t hate her – I have a lot of sympathy for her. When her childhood is revealed along with her understanding of life, death, role of a mother and father and everything that shapes a person at that age – how could you not sympathise. It’s a controversial feeling, but the more I knew about little Chrissie the more I wanted to give her a hug and hope that as Julia, she will be ok. Julia is clearly good mum, giving her little girl everything, whilst not asking anything in return, even love. 
I am so glad to have read this. It’s thought-provoking, difficult, and definitely a book that will stay with me for a while. 
Thank you to TBConFB for this book. 
The Better Mother by Emily Shiner

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 
Zoe is a mum of a three year old girl Anna, happily married to surgeon Ethan and quite frankly her life could not be any better. 
Until there is a knock on the door and a thirteen year old Micah announces that his mum is missing, and Ethan is his dad. But credit to Zoe, she welcomes this boy into their home and convinces Ethan that they must look out for Micah and make sure he has a nice home. 
But quickly things start to get weird. Little incidents and Micah calling Zoe mom within 24 hours, make Zoe feel on edge and like something just isn't right with the boy and she realises that she has invited into he life someone, she knows nothing about. And when Police tell her, Micah's mum is found dead, Zoe swear she will protect her family at all costs. 
This is a quick page turner. A little predictable especially since perfect Ethan is so squeaky clean and clearly has emotional superiority and control over Zoe, even is she doesn't admit that to herself. 
Anyone that like a quick read thriller, will enjoy this book and the ending I felt was also perfect. 
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Why is this book so under-rated! I was scared to read this after seeing the reviews and the rating and I was apprehensive about going into this as I have never not liked a book by Jodi Picoult. 

All I can say is please do not listen to reviews - make your mind up.

To me, this book is nowhere near a text book - if my textbooks were written like this, I would have learned so much more! So massive disagreement with a lot of reviews there. The Egyptology parts of this book are so well interwoven into the story and they are the bases of it. Egypt is the most importance foundation block of this book. And it's written with Jodi's usual skill and love and expertise. Jodi never does anything by halves and went to Egypt to study the subject.

Another big thing for me is Dawn. How anyone that read this book properly can say she is self-centred and selfish is also beyond me where all the way through and up until the last page she still thinks about other people and how he actions might affect them. and she is a death doula - THE person that is there for other people in their biggest hour need!

I love it. It's insightful, thought-provoking, discusses death in so many ways you would never think about. And all the time is supported by Dawn's two universes. 

The Book of Two Ways is a brilliant read and I would recommend this to anyone.
A Dark Enchantment by Roland Vernon

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.
Just not for me. The subject won't be interesting for me and the language us too fluffy.
The Other Wife by Claire McGowan

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Good, fast-paced thriller with couple of twists and turns.
The Familiars by Stacey Halls

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 Fabulous book. I thought it started rather slowly, but actually, it just built up the story really well and suddenly I didn't want to put it down and inhale the book whole.

Such a familiar, simple story, involving the Pendle Witch trials, but skillfully written into a life of an ordinary gentle woman of the 17th century.

Just brilliant. 
Redemption by Jack Jordan

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Aaron has just been released form prison after serving 11 years for a hit and run incident that killed a boy named Joshua Moore. 11 years that Evelyn Moore, Joshua’s mother, spent planning his murder and 11 years that Tobias Moore, Joshua’s father, spent looking for the wife he loved in the woman he lives with, never losing hope. 
Aaron just wants to stay of the radar and get on with his life, he is clean of drugs, has a job and flat above a shop and a rekindled relationship from the past. But with Evelyn determined and ready to strike, he has no hope of a quiet life. 
Tobias knows that if Evelyn gets her wish and kills Aaron, he will lose his wife forever. As Evelyn sets off to finally serve her justice and leaving destruction in her path, Tobias sets off to stop her and help the one man, he never wanted to meet. 
This is a proper cat and mouse book. Aaron and Tobias are very likable characters and I really enjoyed the relationship they create out of desperation and fear. Tobias is a kind man, that sees when a person never had a chance of normal life and where innocence still exists. Evelyn on the other hand is awful, unlikable and to me unrealistic. It was all too much – all the things she did to other, to herself and still carried on – I just felt it was too far-fetched. 
I liked the writing style, the pace of the story, the surroundings and I would happily read another book by this author. It was a proper, grown-up story of grief and revenge. 
My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes

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challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Anna Walsh is back and slightly broken again. Back in Ireland, not knowing what to do with her life after leaving behind her high-flying job in New York, her apartment and her last boyfriend. Anna feels lost, not able to cope with the stress of her PR job anymore and sad from her amicable and very friendly breakup with Angelo. Suddenly she is not sure what to do. 
When a job comes up to work for friends Brigit and Colm to save their luxury country retreat build and reputation with the local residents of a small town, Anna is thrown into the intricate world of new friends, small town gossip and the go-boy Joye – blast from the past she is not sure she is ready for. 
But as they face each new crisis together, their friendship blossoms once again and there is hope for finally being together. But trust is earned and that seems nearly impossible for both of them. 
I love the Walsh family - all the sisters and their different characters, so liking Anna was not a problem. Joye on the other side I struggled with a little bit – I found him weak and controlling - everything was down to him and his decisions. But one person I disliked completely? Jacqui – she is the worst friend I could possibly imagine – unsupportive, selfish, always the victim. For that – the book lost a star as I was just not interested in that relationship at all – I get it, but for me reading Anna and Jacqui’s past was enough – any future for them was not something I even wanted to read about and I think the book would have been better without it – at least for me. 
But – bravo Marian – another fabulous book that I thoroughly enjoyed. 
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A much anticipated read and it didn't disappoint. I will gladly read the rest of the trilogy and will very much enjoy it. Not the best ever fantasy book I've read and definitely near the top.

Loved the mind conversations between dragons and riders, the descriptive language was excellent and characters very likable. Pace was absolutely right to keep you going too. I just feel it has something slightly missing and can't put my finger on it, hence the loss of a star. 
HEAR HER SCREAM by Dylan H. Jones

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 
Valencia is a researcher for a podcast company that specialises in criminal cases where there is a possibility of the wrong person being behind bars for a crime they didn’t commit. Things take on a personal spin when that person is Clyde Domingo – incarcerated for the brutal murder of Jodi – Valencia’s best friend. 
Valencia persuades her boss to let her go back to where Jodi was murdered and dig out what she can. And the more she digs, the more she is in danger. She is clearly not wanted there, where there are secrets decades old. Secrets that nobody wants her to know. 
This is quite a fast paced, thriller, following couple of timelines. It’s descriptive, twisty and keeps you guessing. 
Thank you to NetGalley and