Spoiler-Free Review: Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey Date Started - 3/1/2018 Date Finished - 27/1/2018 Genre(s) - Contemporary, Mystery Synopsis: A mystery, an unsolved crime and one of the most unforgettable characters since Mark Haddon's Christopher. Meet Maud ... 'Elizabeth is missing' reads the note in Maud's pocket in her own handwriting, and the one on the wall. Maud's been getting forgetful.= She keeps buying peach slices when she has a cupboard full, forgets to drink the cups of tea she's made and writes notes to remind herself of things. But Maud is determined to discover what has happened to her friend, Elizabeth, and what it has to do with the unsolved disappearance of her sister Sukey, years back, just after the war. A fast-paced mystery, an unforgettable voice: you will laugh and cry but you'll never forget Maud. I brought this book back in 2015 and it's been sat on my TBR shelf ever since. There's been a couple of times where I thought about picking it up, but there was always something else that was more appealing. I never tend to read adult fiction, let alone mysteries, so this was something quite different for me and I think that's why I put it off for so long. With a new year just starting, I decided to bite the bullet and finally start it.
In Elizabeth Is Missing, Maud the main character had dementia and I have never read about a character with this before, so I was quite interested to see how tis would work out. I think the condition was explored well in the book and you really got to see the effects it had on Maud's life as well as her families'. There was confusion and repetition in the story to show her condition, but I feel it was taken too far at times and it effected the pace of the story. It felt that the story was going nowhere and it was getting too repetitive that I ended up struggling and sorting of forcing myself to read it, chapter by chapter. I enjoyed the mix of the two mysteries, Sukey and Elizabeth and the past and present changes as Maud remembered or reflected on different memories. The inclusion of Maud's family in the story was quite important and I thought that the way Emma showed the different characters and their feelings worked really well. For example, Maud's daughter Helen showed her frustration at Maud's confusing, but it also showed a caring side as she tried to sympathise with her mothers' condition. As I finished the books, I felt that there were so many characters and side-stories that we never got to get an ending to. In some ways this worked well, but then there were pages wasted talking about someone or something that didn't matter in the final outcome. I found that after finishing, I was left confused as to what had happened. I understand the ending is meant to be left slightly open as Maud herself would see it, but I think it was rushed a bit and parts just weren't clear enough. I felt that I wasted so much time pushing through the main portion of the book to have the ending rushed. I loved the idea of the story and went in with quite high expectations, but found it just sort of fell and disappointed me. I am glad I gave it a go as it did highlight dementia and its importance. I think it had a lot of potential within the storyline, but I just found it quite difficult to get into and for the story to start moving. Overall, I'm glad I gave it a go and it's encouraged me to go out and read some more mysteries. Rate - 2.5/5 If you've read Elizabeth Is Missing, let me know your thoughts in the comments as I'd be interested to see what some other readers thought. Also, make sure to leave any mystery or thriller suggestions in the comments as well, so I can try some out. BYE! GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24179216-elizabeth-is-missing BD - https://www.bookdepository.com/Elizabeth-is-Missing/9780241968185
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Spoiler-Free Review: Orangeboy by Patrice Lawrence Orangeboy by Patrice Lawrence Date Started - 25/7/2019 Date Finished - 27/7/2019 Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Marlon has promised his widowed mum that he'll be good, and nothing like his gang-leader brother Andre. It's easy when you keep yourself to yourself, listening to your dead dad's Earth, Wind and Fire albums and watching sci-fi. But everything changes when Marlon's first date with the beautiful Sonya ends in tragedy; he becomes a hunted man and he has no idea why. With his dad dead and his brother helpless, Marlon has little choice but to enter Andre's old world of guns, knives and drug runs in order to uncover the truth and protect those close to him. It's time to fight to be the last man standing. Review: Do you have those books on your TBR that you picked up because you heard amazing things, but put off reading cause you're kinda worried you're gonna be that person that just doesn't like it? Orangeboy was one of those books for me. I've had it sitting on my shelf for quite a long time and I finally decided to bite the bullet and give it a read during the Reading Rush. And I really enjoyed it. It was super easy to get into and this was something I needed in a book following a major reading slump. The pacing of the book was spot on and things began to happen quite fast and it all started building up, but this reflected the high emotions that the main character Marlon was feeling. It made it seem like he was sharing that sense of panic and loss of control with you and it made the book hit me on a different level. I really felt for Marlon and the situation he was placed in. The book definitely deals with some heavy topics - drugs, death, violence, gang violence, weapons, but I'm glad Lawrence didn't shy away from these topics and instead made them the focus of the story. Along with these topics, there's a big focus on family and how easily families can be torn apart (or brought back together later) due to these issues. They are sensitive topics but I think they were dealt with incredibly well and a story like this is so prominent in society today and it's definitely one of those reads that I think everyone should give a go. Anyone who reads this will respect how important the story is, regardless of background. I loved Lawrence's writing style and the portrayal of the characters and it's definitely made me keen to give her other work a read as well as keep an eye out for the future. This book really opened my eyes to some topics and I'm glad I finally gave it a chance. Rate - 4/5 GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25699515-orangeboy?from_search=true BD - https://www.bookdepository.com/Orangeboy/9781444927207 Hello! So, July was the month that I finally got back into reading so it was a bit of a rocky month and I wasn't able to read as much as I would've hoped, but I am pleased with the progress nonetheless! July was also a difficult month for me with being ill and it's just been a bit stressful, so here's hoping that August will be more productive! In total this month I managed to read 6 books, so I'm going to talk through each of them. Carry on reading... Queen of Air and Darkness (The Dark Artifices #3) by Cassandra Clare Date Started - No clue, most likely end of May/beginning of June Date Finished - 1/7/2019 Synopsis: What if damnation is the price of true love? Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of the tragic death of Livia Blackthorn, the Clave teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the disease that is destroying the race of warlocks. Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined. Caught in a race against time, Emma and Julian must save the world of Shadowhunters before the deadly power of the parabatai curse destroys them and everyone they love. My Thoughts: This was one of the first books I picked up following my reading slump, which I now think was a bit of a mistake, you'll understand why if you've seen the size of this book! It took me quite a long time to get through and I found that I didn't love it quite as much as I had the rest of the series. I found there to be several moments where I was beginning to get bored as it felt like nothing was happening and it was just becoming quiet repetitive. Near the ending, this changed and I loved it. I feel like maybe the reason why I didn't enjoy it as much is because of my reading slump. Nonetheless, I love the Shadowhunter world and am glad and also quite sad to say that I'm nearly caught up! As always, I love Cassandra Clare's writing style and I'm looking forward to seeing future Shadowhunter adventures. Rate - 3.5-4/5 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13541056-queen-of-air-and-darkness?ac=1&from_search=true Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Queen-of-Air-and-Darkness/9781471116704 How Do You Like Me Now? by Holly Bourne Date Started - 3/7/2019 Date Finished - 4/7/2019 Synopsis: 'Turning thirty is like playing musical chairs. The music stops, and everyone just marries whoever they happen to be sitting on.' Who the f*ck is Tori Bailey? There's no doubt that Tori is winning the game of life. A straight-talking, bestselling author, she's inspired millions of women around the world with her self-help memoir. And she has the perfect relationship to boot. But Tori Bailey has been living a lie. Her long-term boyfriend won't even talk about marriage, but everyone around her is getting engaged and having babies. And when her best friend Dee - her plus one, the only person who understands the madness - falls in love, suddenly Tori's in terrifying danger of being left behind. When the world tells you to be one thing and turning thirty brings with it a loud ticking clock, it takes courage to walk your own path. It's time for Tori to practice what she's preached, but the question is: is she brave enough? The debut adult novel by bestselling author Holly Bourne is a blisteringly funny, honest and moving exploration of love, friendship and navigating the emotional rollercoaster of your thirties. My Thoughts: I couldn't have asked for anything more from this book. I loved it! It was my first venture into adult contemporary and I wasn't expecting to adore it as much as I did. I will be doing a full review for this book, which will be up soon, so keep your eyes peeled for more of my thoughts. I would definitely recommend How Do You Like Me Now? if you just want an honest, sad but funny contemporary! Rate - 5/5 Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34538386-how-do-you-like-me-now?from_search=true Book Depository - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34538386-how-do-you-like-me-now?from_search=true The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Date Started - 7/7/2019 Date Finished - 9/7/2019 Synopsis: The critically acclaimed debut novel from Stephen Chbosky follows observant “wallflower” Charlie as he charts a course through the strange world between adolescence and adulthood. First dates, family drama, and new friends. Sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Devastating loss, young love, and life on the fringes. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie must learn to navigate those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up. My Thoughts: I was pretty nervous to be starting this one as all I've heard is amazing things and this book is cherished by so many people. However, personally it just wasn't that for me. I thought it was a great book and the story was immersive, but it just didn't wow me. I'd still recommend reading it if you haven't as it is loved by so many people and I'm glad that I read it even if I'm not one of those people. There is so many beautiful moments in this book, and I fell in love with some quotes. I may do a review for this one, so if you'd like to hear more of my thoughts, make sure to comment down below and I'll do so. Rate - 3.5/5 Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47440429-the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower?ac=1&from_search=true BookDepository- https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Perks-of-Being-a-Wallflower/9781847394071 Wilde About The Girl (Robin Wilde #2) by Louise Pentland Date Started - 13/7/2019 Date Finished - 16/7/2019 Synopsis: Robin Wilde is acing life. After the year from hell, she's pulled herself up and out of the Emptiness, her love life is ticking along nicely, single motherhood is actually quite fun and she is ready for whatever life throws at her. When a thrilling opportunity at work arises, Robin is more than excited to step up and show everyone, including herself, what she's made of. But her best friend Lacey is increasingly broken-hearted about struggling to conceive, and her daughter Lyla is starting to come out with some horrible attitudes she's learning from someone at school. Is Auntie Kath hiding loneliness under her bubbly, loving veneer? And can Robin definitely trust the people she must depend on in her fab new role? But Robin has her girls. And her girls have got her. Together they can handle any crisis. Can't they? Life is about to throw quite the curve ball at Robin Wilde, and she'll need to make some pretty brave choices if she's going to stop everything she cares about falling apart . . . My Thoughts: I brought this as soon as it was released last year and had kind of neglected picking it up. Recently I've been really wanting to get through my TBR pile, so I thought it'd be the perfect time to give this contemporary a go, especially after loving the last contemporary I'd read. I was apprehensjve about picking this one up cause my memory of the first book was a bit hazy, but I managed to get into it pretty easily and felt like I'd never left the characters. This book focuses on Robin's life and the ups and downs that come with it. It deals with some pretty difficult topics, but then has a mix of happy and fun moments. There's a focus on female empowerment and I love how this series contains such strong female characters. I really enjoyed this instalment in the series and found that I didn't want to get to the end. This is another contemporary that I'd definitely recommend! WARNING: This book deals with issues surrounding pregnancy, with a focus on miscarriage and also a secondary character that has issues becoming pregnant. If you are sensitive to these topics, I'd recommend giving this book a miss. Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36368624-wilde-about-the-girl?ac=1&from_search=true Book Depository - https://www.bookdepository.com/Wilde-About-The-Girl/9781785764622 The Boy In The Striped Pajamas by John Boyne Date Started - 22/7/2019 Date Finished - 23/7/2019 Synopsis: Berlin 1942 When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance. But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences. My Thoughts: This book has been on my TBR for the longest time and I thought that as I was taking part in the Reading Rush, that it'd be the perfect time to finally give it a go. After finishing this book, I honestly wasn't clear on my thoughts and still am not. I found it okay and I respect the events the book is based on, but I felt I expected more from the characters. I found it hard to connect with them and I found the story didn't flow as well as I expected. I have to admit that I watched the film before reading it and I think I preferred the movie. I felt there was more emotion and I connected with it more. I'm glad I did finally read it and it's one more off my TBR shelf! Rate - 2.75-3/5 Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39999.The_Boy_in_the_Striped_Pajamas?ac=1&from_search=true BookDepository- https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Boy-in-the-Striped-Pyjamas/9781909531192 Orangeboy by Patrice Lawrence Date Started - 25/7/2019 Date Finished - 27/7/2019 Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Marlon has promised his widowed mum that he'll be good, and nothing like his gang-leader brother Andre. It's easy when you keep yourself to yourself, listening to your dead dad's Earth, Wind and Fire albums and watching sci-fi. But everything changes when Marlon's first date with the beautiful Sonya ends in tragedy; he becomes a hunted man and he has no idea why. With his dad dead and his brother helpless, Marlon has little choice but to enter Andre's old world of guns, knives and drug runs in order to uncover the truth and protect those close to him. It's time to fight to be the last man standing. My Thoughts: This is another one that has been sitting on my TBR for too long and so I read it as part of the Reading Rush. I've heard nothing but good things about this book and so I had pretty high expectations before reading it. I was definitely not disappointed! I was hooked right from the start and I felt so invested in the story. It was an emotional read and I was on the verge of tears at times following Marlon as he's thrown into a helpless situation. It deals with gangs, drugs and violence, which is so prevalent in society today. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to read more by Patrice Lawrence! Rate - 4/5 WARNING: This book deals with death, grief, gangs, drugs and violence, so if you are sensitive to these topics, I'd recommend taking caution when considering reading this. Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25699515-orangeboy?ac=1&from_search=true Book Depository - https://www.bookdepository.com/Orangeboy/9781444927207 So those were my thoughts on all the books I read in July! I will be doing reviews on one or two of these books, but if there's one in particular you'd like to see, then make sure to et me know in the comments!
QOTD: What books did you read in July? Which one was your favourite? Let me know in the comments! BYE! pReview: Hiding Till Dawn by E.M. Rinaldi Hiding Till Dawn (Cross Chronicles #2) by E.M. Rinaldi Synopsis: Destiny is unrelenting. It will come for you, and when it does there is no escaping it; something Casey knows firsthand. On the run from the dean and his ever loyal Imperial Guardians; Casey, Cedric, and Falon must put their trust in the most unlikely of allies. Their search for help will lead them across the country, into enemy territories and mystical kingdoms alike. With a prophecy over her head, it is ultimately up to Casey to bring her world back to order. But for that to happen, the corrupted officials who govern her world must be stopped. New friends and old will align to bring back the peace, by force if necessary. And first on their list? The dean. Casey hasn’t forgotten the torment she suffered at his hand, and the nightmares are far from over. Can she eradicate this threat and help save her world? Or will she fall to the pressure of her fate? Review
After reading the first book in this series, Evading The Dark (review linked below), I was beyond excited to carry on with the story and find out what would be in store for Casey. This books follows straight on from that cliffhanger ending and throws you straight back into Casey's crazy life. Along with a change in story, this book brought a new array of characters, some bringing good to the situation and others working against Casey and her friends to ultimately make it a lot worse. I enjoyed getting to see how Rinaldi integrated these characters into the story and how the interactions would work, especially with the Vampires due to past stereotypes/views. I honestly thoroughly enjoyed the vampires and the dynamic they brought. It helped show progression in Casey's character as she was forced into a situation in which she needed to trust. I did find that I struggled a bit more with the pacing of this book as compared with the first one as I found it slowed a bit around the middle point, though I think this was a personal problem as I kept having to stop reading and would then struggle to get back into it. However, once I was back into the story and the action picked up again, I was loving it. A theme that becomes important to this story is family and relationships. Casey is a difficult character to understand at first as she has built up a wall between herself and others, not really letting anyone close to her, which led to significant consequences in the first book. However, in this one we see her fight to protect those close to her including Eli, Falon and Cedric and to do this means she has to trust others such as the Vampires. At this same time, she also has a blossoming relationship with Cedric that I enjoyed reading about as it introduced two new sides to both characters specifically that Casey let herself be vulnerable. This is also similar as she begins to discover new information about her family as well as bonds she grows with others, that although not related, create a safer space for her. One of my favourite things about E.M. Rinaldi's writing is how it makes the story become so immersive and you are easily swept up in the lives of her characters. You feel like you are apart of Casey's team as you become so caught up in wanting them to achieve their goal. I sometimes find that I quite dislike the main characters, but I love Casey from her sarcastic comments and just overall attitude. She is such a strong female character and gives off a sense of empowerment, though I wish sometimes she would rely on her friends round her to relieve some of the danger, which she begins to do in this book. All the characters from the first book have grown and developed as they are faced with more they could imagine and it'll be interesting to see how this will continue into book 3. There were definitely some surprise twists along the way and some important but sad events towards the end. I found myself rooting for Casey and her gang, but unfortunately it seems things are going to get worse with the setup for the third book. It'll be interesting to see what Rinaldi will bring next to this series. To conclude, I'm really enjoying getting into this new series and would definitely recommend to give it a go if you're looking for a magical adventure following the drama being experienced by teenage kickass character. Rating - 4/5 Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34708329-hiding-till-dawn?ac=1&from_search=true BookDepository - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hiding-Till-Dawn-Cross-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B07D9P8ZXG Review of Evading The Dark - https://bookswithbeth.weebly.com/blog/spoiler-free-review-evading-the-dark-by-em-rinaldi |
AuthorHello and welcome to Books With Beth! I'm Beth and on this blog I share a mix of all my bookish thoughts through reviews, book tours and hauls. Have fun! Categories
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