Although it’s already September, it’s time for May wrap up (finally, right?!). And even though May was 4 months ago, I still remember it being one of the most successful reading months of 2020. Simply because of the sheer volume of books I managed to get through.
Obsession – Amanda Robson – 3/5
Obsession isn’t the first time I’ve read a book by this author and I can’t say I particularly liked the other one either. There are some similarities in the style and I’m just not really here for it. The chapters are short, some only a few lines.
Obsession follows two married couples, and trigger alert brushes heavily on infidelity, mental health issues, rather graphic sex scenes, murder and suicide. The whole story unfolds in front of us from four different viewpoints, which is a great idea. It just jumped around a lot and was really quite exhausting to keep up with.
I will say that it was really quite interesting to see the deterioration, and the reasons behind it, of one particular character. Furthermore some other character development, although maybe not the most positive, added a little spice to the story, too. It also got a bit comical when a certain phrase was used way too often, so Obsession can also be used as a really successful drinking game. 🙃
Overall, it wasn’t what I expected. I wouldn’t recommend, but in the end I didn’t hate hate it either.
Dear Child – Romy Housmann – eArc – 3/5
Dear Child will forever be the physical reminder for me to never give up.
Not literally, mind you. But for the two thirds of this book I was bored, confused and annoyed with the characters, their actions and the plot. The last third blew me away. It was hair-rising, thrilling shocking, revealing and twisty like the clown in American Horror Story! What a reveal!! I am so glad I stuck with it and got the glimpse of why so many of you have enjoyed this book so much. And whilst the majority of the book wasn’t for me, it was all worth it in the end.
The Switch – Beth O’Leary – 5/5
I anticipated this book so much, but I was also approaching with caution. I get a bit funny when a book is hyped by many, I’m afraid I’ll be the only one who doesn’t like it etc.
I’ve been proved wrong yet again. What drew me to this book were the two protagonists – Leena and Eileen. Granddaughter and Grandmother who switch lives. Leena needs to step away from busy London life to find herself again, and newly single Eileen (79!!) finds there are slim pickings in her village. And so Eileen moves to London to tip her toes into a much larger dating pool, when Leena tries to settle into the “quiet” life in the countryside for two months. A LOT HAPPENS 🤭
We all need an Eileen in our lives.
The Switch is a heartwarming story of self-discovery, anger, grief, forgiveness, adventure and ultimately–healing. It’s just incredible! I got major “The Holiday” vibe throughout, but like, even better.
Also, can I just say that I kept forgetting that Eileen is a 79-year-old grandmother. She could easily be my best friend 💕
All the stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The Stranger Inside – Lisa Unger – 3.5/5
I didn’t really like it, didn’t really hate it. I zoned out on numerous occasions and found it a bit slow at times.
There was nothing surprising for me and to be honest if you asked me in a few weeks (even days perhaps) I’d have no idea what this book was about or wouldn’t even be able to name a character.
So in conclusion – a predictable, slow burning and easily forgettable thriller among others. Oops. But at least I managed to finish another NetGalley read, finally! Yay to that!
The Kingmaker’s Daughter – Philippa Gregory – PB & Audio – 5/5
Loved it as much as I’ve loved the other three in the series.
Gregory’s writing is a pleasure to read– truly captivating and interesting. I listened to most of this book and would highly recommend the audio version. This is by far one of my favourite series and I am looking forward to the rest for sure.
My Sister the Serial Killer – Oyinkan Braithwaite – Audio – 3/5
To be honest, I feel a little let down. I had expected a crime thriller vibe, lots of twists and a fair bit of murdering.
What I got instead was a display of unconditional love and bond between two sisters, one of whom killed her three boyfriends for no apparent reason? I wish there was a an explanation why she’d “become a serial killer” and that there were actually some more of that “serial killing” in its true form. But I guess there’s only so much you can do in such a short book.
Interesting enough to finish, but not what I expected.
Maybe I’d have a different opinion if I read it with my eyeballs and perhaps rooted more for the characters, but this is based on an audio book experience and it really wasn’t all that 🤦🏻♀️ Witty- yes. Comical at times- yes. Thriller- not so much.
The White Princess – Philippa Gregory – PB & Audio – 5/5
For a history novice, or rather someone who paid zero attention to it in school, the Cousins’ War series has been a perfect way to get to know at least some of the story.
I can’t comment on the correctness and factuality, but Gregory surely knows how to make history interesting and intriguing to read, whilst also making her protagonists heard. Well at least for me. I love Gregory’s writing, it wraps me in from the first page and carries me through the narrative like a tide. Just love it.
Don’t @ me lol, hi 👋😁
American Psycho – Bret Easton Ellis – PB & Audio – 3.5/5
So that was a ride. A nice little ride except the bike was on fire and I was on fire and the whole world was on fire.. I’m fine. Really. 🤯
I don’t really care for content warning, generally. Jenna (@jennastopreading) was discussing this topic in her stories and honestly there really couldn’t have been a better time for it. (Go check out the highlights on her profile!) American Psycho, out of all the books I’ve read, ever, should come with content warning on the first page of the book.
I’ve seen the film, I know Bateman is completely messed up in his head and I should’ve expected this 💩 to go down as it did. I love the film but it was much harder reading it. – abuse
– torture
– murder
– super graphic and detailed sex scenes (including.. ahem, dead bodies) – very graphic gore content
– drugs
– cannibalism 😷
– you name it, it’s there.
I had to switch to an audio book as my eyeballs just couldn’t deal with the… plot. Thank heavens I rushed past some of the parts in 2x speed.
It managed to get a few chuckles out of me though, so not all satire was lost on me. It just got overshadowed by runny eyeballs, cut up “beavers” and a sh*t ton of porn. *exhales deeply*
I hated it, but I loved it. Am I OK?! Honestly I have no idea who I’d recommend this to.
Read it, don’t read it. Remember you have been warned.
Our Stop – Laura Jane Williams – Audio – 5/5
I’m not one for rom com. Really. But Our Stop came into my life at the right time. No scrap that – perfect time and I am thankful for all the “near misses” as I’d seen it around for a while, but never felt the pull strong enough to read it.. Until now.
So basically I had just finished the abomination of a book – American Psycho, and I happened to stumble across this book when scrolling through my local library’s audio book selection. I needed something fluffy, pink and fuzzy. Our Stop is exactly that!
It’s also so much more than a rom com. Although the main plot is for Nadia and Daniel to eventually get together and live happily ever after (they may or may not, you need to read this to find out), what made Our Stop impossible to put down for me were the relationships between our main protagonists and their friends. God the bond and support they have for one another, loved it.
I felt that the book is built heavily on friendship, as well as finding someone to love for the rest of your life of course. Yet, the main thing I take away from it is that having a good group of friends around you makes a life worth living.
Also, I am now wondering how many of us have accidentally walked past the love of our lives without realising 🤯
I’ve found mine, albeit not on the train. But if you still haven’t- keep your head up, make eye contact and say hi to people you meet. What’s the worst that could happen? “Falling in love isn’t the happy ending, it’s just the beginning!” Big fat five stars!
Ps! Audio book narrators did the book so much justice, I cannot recommend enough 💕
In Safe Hands – J.P. Carter – PB & Audio – 2.5/5
I read In Safe Hands first to get a bit of a back story about Anna Tate. To be honest, it doesn’t seem like I got much. Additionally, I only managed to get through as I was listening to the majority of it. I really disliked the main character. I still do.
I’m also not quite feeling the dialogues of either of the book, so perhaps the author’s writing style isn’t quite for me.
Perhaps I’m not reading it at the right time.
Regardless, I gave In Safe Hands 2.5 out of 5, although I’m now thinking if I was perhaps a little generous. 😬
The Silkworm – Robert Galbraith – 3.5/5
I no longer support this author.
Tell me what did you read in May? Do you even remember?
