prettylittlewriter

Synopsis
‘Audrey and Ivy, determined to bring their fellow student Lola Radcliffe's killer to justice, find themselves in the middle of another mystery when a friend disappears in suspicious circumstances.

But someone is playing a deadly game. And to beat them, Audrey and Ivy have to start rewriting the rules...’

This has been another read that I’ve had an my TBR for almost a year now and I’ve only just managed to get round to reading it! As spooky season is nearly upon us, I thought it fit quite nicely in with my reads for the season!

I did enjoy this book, it was a very easy read with an interesting and gripping storyline that kept me wanting to read it as fast as I could to see how it ended! I did manage to guess who was behind the Magpie Society, so although it wasn’t a surprise to me, it was still a very interesting way to take it!

I will say however, that this novel didn’t seem as well thought out as the first book, and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did the first. It felt very choppy and a little bit all over the place, and didn’t read seamlessly like the first novel. I’m unsure whether this is due to constraints by the authors as they were writing it during a pandemic (plus Zoe was pregnant at the time too), but it certainly wasn’t as good as the first in my opinion.

Throughout both novels I never liked the character of Ivy, and I did feel that the chapters written from her perspective were a little false due to how the novel ends (if you read it, you’ll understand what I mean by this), so I enjoyed Audrey’s chapters a lot more and was rooting for her and Teddy to get together!

I do feel that we missed out a little on going into more detail surrounding the Magpie Society itself, and what they did for the school in the past. We were introduced to characters that were involved in the society, and a few of their own secrets, but there was quite a lot more that they could have done with it.

I think if you want a nice easy read for the spooky season, then I would recommend this as it has a good twist at the end, but unfortunately, although I love the authors a lot (especially Zoe) this just wasn’t the best they could have put out.

3/5 stars

TRIGGER WARNING**

**This book contains some seriously fucked up situations, including rape of young teenage girls and the POV of a manipulative psychopath. If you may struggle with this kind of story, please do not read this book.

Thank you to Black Crow PR for allowing me to read and review and be part of the blog tour for this dark and cleverly sinister novel.

This book was a wild ride from start to finish. I really had no clue how it would pan out, and I went into it pretty blind n0t even reading the synopsis, so when we went into the mind of a sadistic and psychopathic rapist/killer, it really did shock me.

Although this novel was written by two people, you cannot tell, the story runs smoothly and coherently.  

We delve into the minds of a few characters, including Leslie, Dawn and Beau. Leslie is a strong and kind character, always trying to protect her sister Dawn, and knows her own mind when it comes to judging Beau and sticking with her own boyfriend even though her parents don’t approve.

Dawn was Beau’s puppet, a seemingly confident girl in every other aspect apart from when around Beau. Her character ARC was seriously impressive, and at the end of the novel, she becomes probably the bravest and strongest character of them all.

Moving on to Beau, the psychotic and incredibly entitled snob that every ‘high school’ seems to have (probably minus the psychotic though). He truly is probably the darkest and scariest character that I have ever read about; Weis & Astor have done an incredible job of creating a character that you cannot like in any way whatsoever; it doesn’t matter that his father is an arsehole and has probably suffered mental abuse, because whatever he may have experienced, does not justify any of his actions.

Most of the time his Father is telling him he cannot show his true side, and that he has a reputation to uphold (His father definitely knows most of what he has done before, especially involving the animals). His Mother is also not much help, seemingly an alcoholic, but this only occurred after an incident with Beau that scared her to drink.

Another part of the novel that I thought was incredibly well done was the paranormal side that included ‘The Woman in White’ and the rabid dogs that roamed the Abbey, a little bit of folklore which you’re not sure is real at the start, but as the novel comes to a close, you realise that it may be more believable than you think.

Without going into any further details in case of spoilers, if you enjoy delving into the mind of a psychopath, with some very dark and hard-hitting scenarios but with that YA-esque storyline to it, then this is the book for you (please note, this is not actually a YA book, this is 100% adult, with the storyline based in a school with teenagers at the forefront, which makes it have similarities to YA novels). 

As previously mentioned at the beginning, if topics such as rape or murder trigger you, do not read this book.

4/5 stars

 Synopsis
‘A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.’

This is a reread as I previously read We Were Liars around three years ago, and even upon a second read it has managed to shock and impress me! 

E Lockhart has managed to create a wonderful and jaw-dropping novel which kept me reading until the early hours of the morning to finish it!

Cadence was a great character, and I was constantly rooting for her and Gat to be together, they seemed to be made for each other!

Lockhart also personified a lot of Cadence’s emotions, which was just incredible; the descriptions of how powerful the headaches were was just brilliant.

I also loved the short chapters surrounding the fairy-tale stories, and how they intertwine with Cadence’s real life.

The Aunties, including Cadence’s mum, were absolutely awful characters, very entitled and very manipulative. I think the only characters I really liked were the Liars themselves.

Lockhart’s short snappy sentences throughout helped me blitz through the novel as it kept the chapters short which I always love (however it does always mean I end up reading way more than I planned and staying up late to do so!) The moment when all was revealed was perfectly done due to these short lines and even though I’ve previously read the book, I’d actually completely forgotten and was left with my mouth agape when it happened once again!

I would recommend going into this book blind, but if you are reading this review, and you love an intriguing mystery surrounding a group of friends that have a huge secret between them, then I highly recommend you read it!

5/5 stars

The sisters must unlock the truth to set themselves free - and find each other again.’

This book had me hooked from the start. With a dark secret between the sisters, and a dual timeline keeping us guessing what each of them know, I was desperate to unravel the mystery and it kept me up till the early hours reading most nights!

Most of the characters I did find unlikeable in some way (bar Lauren, she is very sincere and kind). Kat & Flora seemed very cruel in some ways, as you will discover when you read the novel, and this made me not care about them as much as I did Lauren, however, as we learn more about their lives through their chapters, I did warm to them more.

Their Father, Charlie, is a ladies man, with each daughter being to a different woman (I'm never a fan of a man-whore!), however, he does show how much he loves each daughter individually throughout the story and you see he is a devoted Father.

My favourite character was probably Bertha the Grey African Parrot, and I do wish she’d had a little bit more of a role within the story (she was very entertaining!).

Angie was probably my least favourite character from the beginning, but by the end of the novel, she does have a little bit of redemption.

There are quite a few secrets that are gradually unearthed, in which some of them I did guess, and it kept you wondering just what else the characters could be hiding (especially Charlie, his secrets seemed never-ending).

There are many emotional moments within the novel, with Lauren suffering from Anxiety/PTSD from an incident that happened in 1999, and between each sister when they discuss their own personal lives. It made me long to dive into the book and give each girl a cuddle! The reveal of the main secret is also quite a sad and emotional moment, which although I had guessed what had happened, it still made me tear up.

Eve Chase has created an encapsulating and enthralling story with a brilliant ensemble cast, and if you’re looking to dive in to a family drama/mystery novel, then I highly recommend this!

4/5 stars

 A wonderfully country, heart-warming and fast-paced novel. 

Synopsis
'Every song tells a story.
She’s a star on the rise, singing about the hard life behind her.
She’s also on the run. Find a future, lose a past.
Nashville is where she’s come to claim her destiny. It’s also where the darkness she’s fled might find her. And destroy her.'
I've always been a huge country music fan, and more specifically, Dolly Parton fan. When she announced this novel co-written with James Patterson, an author who's previous work I've also enjoyed, I knew it was going to be something I loved.

AnnieLee is just a joyous, badass, country-music hopeful with a hidden past that leaves you desperate to find out what has happened for her to constantly be looking over her shoulder. 
Ethan is an absolute angel, who you want desperately for AnnieLee to let in, as all he wants to do from the moment he meets her is take care of her. 
And Ruthanna, well, you can just tell that she has been modelled on Queen Dolly herself; she is the epitome of cool, she knows her worth and won't settle for less, and is just a complete and utter sweetheart. 

The novel has been written so well that you really do feel like you're in the heart of Nashville throughout, following AnnieLee as she tries to escape her past and chase her dreams. 
True Patterson style, the novel is also quick and snappy, with short chapters that keep you saying 'just one more' until you've practically read the whole book in one day. 

I cannot fault this novel at all as I love a quick-paced thriller, and I felt completely satisfied with the direction the story took. 

The only thing I was disappointed in was the ending, as I felt it was quite rushed, and that there wasn't quite enough romance involved, but otherwise, it was an absolutely brilliant novel!

4.5/5 stars

 Synopsis
'Victoria and Owen are bitter rivals.

Of all the decisions brilliant lawyer Victoria Clemenceaux has made in her life, an unforgettable one-night stand with her opposing counsel Owen Pohl is either the worst...or the best.

One thing is certain: these long-standing rivals aren't going to let their searing attraction stop them from winning the biggest case of their careers. Thankfully Victoria and Owen have someone to vent to about their nemeses. But they have no idea that their online 'friends', Nora and Luke, are the very people they hate in real life.

As Nora and Luke grow closer online, and Victoria and Owen find their undeniable attraction harder to resist, the lines between love and hate blur. When the truth comes out, will their online chemistry work in the real world, or will their constant rivalry sever their connection?'

Since I read The Hating Game by Sally Thorne at the beginning of February, I've been really enjoying getting back into romance novels (they have been a lost genre for me for a few years now as I tend to go for thrillers or fantasy novels) and I am so happy I have as they are just so warming to the soul!

This book I picked up on a whim in The Works as it is quite short and I thought it sounded quite similar to The Hating Game. Upon reading it, it is very similar, with enemies to lovers (my favourite trope), a wedding and a 'sick day' visit, but also unique in it's own way with the online relationship!

I absolutely loved the character of Owen, I thought he was a sweetheart, and he was especially generous in the bedroom (I love a bit of smut and I wasn't actually expecting it which was awesome). 

Victoria is also a lovely character, but I found her more difficult to warm to as she was so darn stubborn when it came to letting anyone in (anonymity can be great, but not when you start to catch feelings for someone), so when she wouldn't let either Owen or Luke (her online love interest) in on who she really was, I found it a little frustrating. 

It's enemies to lovers, which is probably my favourite romance trope, and it was honestly such a breath of fresh air to read! The storyline itself is very clever, and as it's a short book, it has quite a fast pace which keeps you interested throughout.

The only reason I'm not giving this novel a full 5 stars is because I felt like the twitter exchange between 'Nora' and 'Luke' should definitely have been picked up on sooner by one of them, and I found it quite frustrating when the little things that Owen picked up on with Victoria that were similar to Nora weren't explored more by him to discover that they were one and the same! However, this did not take away from the enjoyment of the book as a whole

Overall, I really enjoyed it and I will definitely be recommending to any romance fans!

4.5/5 stars

‘When Abbie met Oz, they were young, idealistic students from different backgrounds, but their connection was unmistakable. Then Oz went home to Istanbul and life moved on.
Now Abbie is with the man she thinks she's going to spend the rest of her life with, until she meets Oz again - a chance encounter that might change everything.
They find themselves drawn to each other once more, but have commitments, jobs and families that take priority, and too much time has passed, hasn't it?
Abbie and Oz are about to find out that no matter how many miles and obstacles are between them, fate might just have another plan, and that their love story isn't over yet.’

The fact that Abbie and Oz had only spent a total of 14 days together, but they loved each other with such force that they were brought together by divine intervention many times, is just absolutely stunning and lovely. They are the true definition of soulmates, and that even though life might take you away from each other, you will forever be linked.

I absolutely loved Oz’ character and the incorporation of his nationality, I really enjoyed being taken to many different places across the world, including Istanbul, and I really felt like I was there watching them! Liz (Abbie’s best friend) was also a brilliantly funny and great friend to Abbie, and she also added a level of reality into the novel with the reality of post-partum depression.

There are some real heart-breaking moments throughout, and I was very close to tears a lot of the time. I also found myself getting so frustrated as I desperately wanted Abbie and Oz to be together, but literally everything kept getting in the way!

The ending was lovely, and I was very pleased with it.

I honestly couldn’t fault this novel at all, so romantic and sweet and just plain lovely. I highly recommend to any romance fan!

5/5 stars

This novel is going to stick with me for a very long time.

 Synopsis
‘2020. A recently widowed architect moves into the home she and her late husband designed. When disturbing things begin to happen, it's clear that someone is sending her a warning. Who is trying to frighten her away, and why? It is only when she meets an elderly neighbour that she learns the street has a shocking and tragic past. A past that some will go to any lengths to keep hidden. 

1964. A young white female student becomes involved in the fight for civil rights in North Carolina, falling in love with one of her fellow activists, in a time and place where an interracial relationship must be hidden, especially from the reemerging Ku Klux Klan. As tensions rise in the town, she realises not everyone is who they appear to be.

Decades later, past and present are set to collide in the last house on the street...’

This book had me all over the place emotionally. Diane’s writing is incredible. I was cringing, gasping, on the verge of tears (who am I kidding, I was crying A LOT) for the dear souls within this novel. From Mattie and Dee Dee, to Winston and Ellie, I couldn’t have felt more involved in each of their lives thanks to the way Diane draws you in.

Back to the book now, before I keep ranting.

I enjoyed both characters, Ellie & Kayla, and their separate chapters, and how it all cleverly came together at the end. Kayla’s was a bit more of a slow burn, but that was only because Ellie’s story needed to be told before we could really see how the two intertwined.

Winston was my favourite character throughout; a pure soul, full of heart and gumption, and I’m still reeling from what happens to him (I did guess about ¼ of the way through the novel that something like that was going to happen, I just desperately didn’t want it to be true).

All that remains for me to say about this novel really is that I urge you all to read it. It’s powerful, raw, heart-breaking and brilliantly clever, and I think everyone needs to read this incredible novel.

5/5 stars

 Hello everyone! 

As we say goodbye to another year that has been incredibly difficult for a lot of people, I thought I'd share a roundup of the top 12 books that I've read that helped me get through 2021!

I've put them in no particular order below, as I never really like to compare if I've enjoyed them all and given them all 5 stars, however, I will say, that the book that I still constantly think about and recommend to EVERYONE is The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward. So I'd say that is definitely my favourite of the year!

1. The Inheritance by Gabriel Bergmoser

A very sexy enemies to lovers dark fantasy romance!

3. The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

A feel good easy read! It felt like Gilmore Girls collided with Practical Magic, set in a quaint and autumnal town, with a little bit of spice!

4. The Whistling by Rebecca Netley

5. Afterlove by Tanya Byrne

Teen slasher set in an elite boarding school; a murder mystery filled with passion, drama and a whole lot of murder.

7. Near the Bone by Christina Henry

8. Five Minds by Guy Morpuss

9. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

10. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

11. The Crowns of Croswald 1&2 by D.E. Night

12. The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse