This is a feel good book about a serious and timely topic. It manages to be entertaining and warm-hearted while at the same time attempting to tackle This is a feel good book about a serious and timely topic. It manages to be entertaining and warm-hearted while at the same time attempting to tackle racism, book-banning, bigotry, sexism and wilful ignorance....more
Question: Those of you who have rated this highly, WHY?? So I picked this one for book club. I expected a cute / cosy Scifi story that would be a easyQuestion: Those of you who have rated this highly, WHY?? So I picked this one for book club. I expected a cute / cosy Scifi story that would be a easy, gentle read. The cover is doing some seriously heavy lifting for this book because while the story was cute and cosy it was trying really hard to be cute, the cuteness felt forced and false. And I suppose it could be classed as cosy but that's only because NOTHING FUCKING HAPPENS!! Scout is a space archaeologist (a job that apparently consists of watching recordings and knowing how to do rubbings (frottage) when the incredibly powerful computer can't read a wall map - mind you this computer can supposedly translate vocab from completely alien races including partial words without having a key, but, okay... yeah, sure, whatevs). Scout is working with their brother who is a pilot, engineer, computer guy, safecracker, and everything actually useful. They also have a cat that has it's own space suit, Pumpkin. (IMO Pumpkin carries this boring-arse book). In this universe humanity has reached for the stars only to find that once thriving worlds are devoid of life. Not just the dominant species destroyed but all life has been erased...on world, after world, after world....and no one knows why. Scout and Kieran work for an underfunded non-profit trying to work out what happened by combing through destroyed worlds for caches of information. Their quest is complicated by rival June and her profit driven employer who have better tech, better weapons, and zero motivation for the greater good. In the episodic feeling plotline, Scout and co. reach cache and get stumped by June, and then again, and well, I won't spoil the end, but it is breath takingly predictable if you have ever watched a kids TV show. While all this is going on Scout is processing grief over their mother's death, offering (what for an American author) is deep and profound commentary on a greed-driven medical system. I know that in a few years (if it is still in print) I will probably pick it up again because of that fabulous cover and start reading and about 50% of the way through realise that A) it sucks and B) I have read it before but because it is such a non-event, filled with such unmemorable characters I won't remember a thing. You could read this in an afternoon, or like me you could take ten days to get through it because you lack all motivation to read about completely unmemorable characters. There were also editing issues with the author sometimes switching between first person and third person for Scout's POV. I don't care which an author uses but don't flick between them. There were also randomly awkward sentences as August tried not to use any personal pronouns for Scout's character, not even they / them. I am not sure why? Are they trying not to put off readers who might not try a book with a gender fluid character? If so, pronouns could have been avoided by staying entirely in first person POV. ...more
Eleanor dash is a high flying author. Her best selling Vacation Mysteries series has been going for 10 years and has nine books so when her publisher Eleanor dash is a high flying author. Her best selling Vacation Mysteries series has been going for 10 years and has nine books so when her publisher decides that a promo tour through key locations in Italy is just the thing to celebrate a decade on the best seller lists Eleanor doesn't think twice! But she was not counting on rival authors, a stressful relationship with her sister (who is also her assistant), two ex-boyfriends, passionate fans, a stalker, oh, and someone trying to kill her!
Dazzling scenes set in the tourist hotspots and glitzy places on the Italian coast serve a backdrop for Eleanor and her fellow authors to puzzle out the mystery of who wants her dead before someone actually succeeds.
This is a fun beach read, or if like me you are here in the Victorian winter and you want to dream of hotter climes, the undemanding story and colourful cast of characters make it easy to enjoy the setting.
Like in Benjamin Stevenson's books (Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone & Everyone on This Train is a Suspect) the narrator is constantly breaking the fourth wall to let the reader know little extra things about themselves or others in their life, and Eleanor straight out tells us she is an unreliable narrator.
I did find the authors constant asides (I was listening to the audio version so couldn't skim over the footnotes), inane pop culture references (I think this was meant to make it feel "current" but honestly is just going to date the book really badly), and their recaps (like an American reality TV show you could hardly go a chapter without some sort of recap) just a tad obnoxious. But I don't know, maybe I am in the minority?
I didn't find the "twist" particularly surprising, but I enjoyed the journey....more
OMFG how is this a best seller! I don't care if this is ground-breaking statistical concepts I could feel my brain trying to escape my ears to get awaOMFG how is this a best seller! I don't care if this is ground-breaking statistical concepts I could feel my brain trying to escape my ears to get away from the boredom. If it wasn't for having to lead a book club discussion I would not have finished this and I would have zero regrets. This book represents hours of my life I will never get back
If I had to pick a single word to describe this book that word would be 'convoluted'. While things get tied together at the end it is not a plot that If I had to pick a single word to describe this book that word would be 'convoluted'. While things get tied together at the end it is not a plot that would hold together in anything other than book-land. This is still a YA read (older YA, but YA) with some older themes (sex is implied not explicit), a death, and lots of family angst. ...more
This is actually the first Ali Hazelwood I have read but it won't be the last! This is a fabulous contemporary romance with strong lead characters whoThis is actually the first Ali Hazelwood I have read but it won't be the last! This is a fabulous contemporary romance with strong lead characters who aren't afraid to demand what they need - in and out of bed. Rue is a successful bio-engineer at Kline. A job that has given her financial stability, a good friend and the freedom to pursue her dream project; which is finally almost ready to take to market. Dating isn't her thing, however sex definitely is. With a few rules: He has to follow her lead in bed and never, ever meet up again. So when she connects to Eli for a no strings attached evening she doesn't expect to see him heading up the hostile takeover of Kline the very next day. Eli is as surprised as Rue. He never expected to see her again and isn't going to let this lucky chance get away. But taking over Kline has been years in the making and nothing can get in the way as it is not just his financial investment that has to be recouped. But the attraction is undeniable and as long as they keep this tryst on the downlow there is no reason not to act on it, is there?
Here is a steamy romance with minor angst and a believable plot. Lots of sex scenes which were more imaginative than most romances (all respectful/ consensual - which I am currently finding is not always guaranteed in contemporary romance so that was nice) and female centred. Rue is clearly neuro-divergent and it is great to see an author who has not made neuro-spiciness the character's entire personality. Eli and Rue have great chemistry and the minor characters were fleshed out enough that I actually had to check that some of them had not turned up in previous books (they have not). Points off for repeated use of the words 'filthy' and 'obscene' while doing things that were not actually that...more
I enjoyed the artwork and narrative style of this story. The blend of Classic European and Asian fairy-tale narratives mixed into the story of Tein, aI enjoyed the artwork and narrative style of this story. The blend of Classic European and Asian fairy-tale narratives mixed into the story of Tein, a 14-year old Vietnamese American boy who is struggling to find the words to come out to his mum. At the same time Tien is dealing with his sexuality and being different to his friends due to being a first generation new American - bridging the old world and the new and the gaps between his parents' views and his own are the fairy-tales he reads with his mum to help them both improve their English. I loved the clarity of the artwork and the two different colours used to differentiate between the fairy-tales and the main story....more
Fun and funny historical romance in the wilds of 1880's Montana. Junebug McBride is sick of being the only girl in a family of annoying and bossy big Fun and funny historical romance in the wilds of 1880's Montana. Junebug McBride is sick of being the only girl in a family of annoying and bossy big brothers when she learns about a newspaper dedicated to Matrimonial matters she decides that it is the perfect way to get one of her brothers a wife. With honestly only little sisters can have her advertisement attracts the attention of fortune hunter Willabelle Lascalles who arrives in town with her maid Maddy Mooney in tow. Maddy has only followed Willabelle this far because she has been promised that back wages owed will be paid by Willabelle's new husband-to-be. A few misunderstandings later and Willabelle has found herself a better prospect - abandoning Maddy with some dirty dresses, a dog, and absolutely no money. Maddy feels she has no choice but to approach Willabelle's mail order husband to explain what happened and beg for enough money to get back to civilisation. An accident, a snowstorm and Junebug are all determined that one of her brothers is getting a wife and Maddy is going to stay!
I really enjoyed the language in this book, Junebug and her brothers seem to be the most literate frontier family in the west! This book has classic rom-com vibes and lots of romance without any spicy scenes. Fun characters and a good story will leave you wanting to know more and I will be reading the next book as soon as it comes out!...more
This one wasn't bad, it just wasn't riveting. I feel the story could have done with a few less "snarky / sarcastic" comments from Fran and more actualThis one wasn't bad, it just wasn't riveting. I feel the story could have done with a few less "snarky / sarcastic" comments from Fran and more actual plot - the main one really doesn't make a lot of sense even after all is revealed. ...more
I was not sure what to expect from this new Brandon Sanderson. It is a bit of a departure from his usual epic fantasy, instead it is a sort of time-trI was not sure what to expect from this new Brandon Sanderson. It is a bit of a departure from his usual epic fantasy, instead it is a sort of time-travel/ buddy cop adventure - a fun romp with lots of action.
A man with no memory lands in a scorched field outside a medieval English village - his only clue is an exploded book "The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England" of which he only has about half and some of that is also scorched. Is our protagonist a hero or a villain? Is he a detective or a thief? Is there really magic going on or are the local people's superstitions getting the better of his common sense? This is a white-room mystery with the reader discovering the world along with the protagonist, but there is lots of action, a touch of romance, a few twists and turns before our protagonist works out his true role in the world he has entered. I enjoyed the medieval world and the "local" characters as well as the world's mythology.
To my mind this story felt almost YA. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery felt like that of a teenager (but then I have met an awful lot of juvenile adult men so maybe it is just being a man). I would happily recommend this one for 13+ audience. There is some violence (not overly graphic), no sex. I enjoyed the story but wasn't wowed by it, which might explain why Sanderson had to crowdfund this one in spite of his history of best-sellers, maybe his publishers felt the same?
Started this. The first one wasn't bad but not brilliant. Had medium hopes but they were too high. Can we please stop romanticising male protagonists Started this. The first one wasn't bad but not brilliant. Had medium hopes but they were too high. Can we please stop romanticising male protagonists with the emotional intelligence of a 3 year old?...more
Another fun and silly story from David Walliams. It is the early 1960's and on a little farm Ruth and her little dog Yuri dream of the excitement of tAnother fun and silly story from David Walliams. It is the early 1960's and on a little farm Ruth and her little dog Yuri dream of the excitement of the space race and getting away from her awful aunt Dorothy. As she watches the sky one night she sees a UFO! Not only does it crash on the farm but there is an actual ALIEN who stubles out of the crash!! HIding Spaceboy from her aunt is one thing but when the government gets involved there plenty of shenanigans as Ruth and Spaceboy try to escape. Will they ever manage to get to outer space?
This is a blend of lots of slapstick comedy, a sprinkle of history and lots of action and it is sure to have young readers laughing their heads off. Lots of illustrations, plenty of silliness, and a great layout will appeal even to reluctant readers. ...more
This started okay, a basic opposites attract, ditzy girl meets surly guy romance. I will start by saying this was a fill-in audio book for me while waiThis started okay, a basic opposites attract, ditzy girl meets surly guy romance. I will start by saying this was a fill-in audio book for me while waiting for one I wanted and I admit American narrators are not my jam in general, but this narrator was fine. Perfectly acceptable and if you have an American accent I am sure it wont be as (mildly) annoying to you as it is to me. No, in this instance the issues I had were 95% to do with the material.
The level of oft repeated cringey phrases really got to me by the end. I think I started physically wincing with secondhand-cringe whenever "recharging station" was said. Maybe I am getting too old an cynical for romance books but can authors please stop treating a 4-week old relationship as though it is life and death? These characters are in their 20s-30s but are acting like love-struck teens! Have they never had to compromise? Or commute? Heaven forbid the heroine have a life outside of her relationship! Also can we talk about the major plot hole of the fact everyone seems to forget how to call or message at dramatic moments? Ok, so I can buy that he gets no reception on the sea, but he apparently can't take 30 seconds when offloading to explain that he was delayed by a couple of hours and realises he has been a jerk? No one in the town, including the two women organising the party at the bar, thinks to flick a text explaining why they are late? Neither of the sisters thinks OMG! this is weird that no-one has come, maybe I should call someone?! Instead of checking they just assume that the WHOLE TOWN hates them, in spite of all other evidence. Also at the end he sneaks off to just pack up all her stuff in the middle of first time visiting her parents?! WTF! Is it me? Is that considered romantic? I'd be like get the fuck back in the living room dude! Don't wander around someone else's house randomly packing stuff, how did he even know which room is hers? I could go on but I think this one has put me off Tessa Bailey for a while and certainly listening to romance for a bit - I think the cringe factor is magnified when it is narrated as opposed to read. ...more
This was a fun, odd-couple romance with some sexy scenes. I read this in a single day as I was nursing a cold and it was the perfect level of undemandThis was a fun, odd-couple romance with some sexy scenes. I read this in a single day as I was nursing a cold and it was the perfect level of undemanding escapism. Chaotic gardener Hallie has had the hots for Julian since she was in high school. A few years older than her Julian is everything Hallie isn't. Julian has a 10-year plan, a 24 hour plan and a schedule for everything in between. Taking a sabbatical from his lecturing job at an Ivy league University to write a book Julian has returned home to his family's winery for peace and quiet but between the winery's financial woes and Hallie's chaotic energy Julian's plans are about to get massively derailed. This has all the tropes you expect in a romance novel but manages to be entertaining and fun. ...more