Month: May 2024

Book Review: Our Holiday by Louise Candlish

Posted on by Libby Price

Having enjoyed previous books by Louise Candlish, I was delighted to be given an advance review copy of her new book, Our Holiday, which is published early in July 2024. Here’s the blurb:

“Charlotte and Perry long for summers at Cliff View, their gorgeous holiday home overlooking the turquoise waters of Pine Ridge. And now that city friends Amy and Linus have bought a property nearby, they plan lazy weeks of sun, sea and sipping rosé on Charlotte’s summerhouse veranda.
But there’s trouble in paradise…
A rising tide of resentment towards second-home owners is heading their way and small acts of criminal damage are escalating into something more menacing. By the end of the summer, families and friendships will be torn apart and Pine Ridge will be known for more than its sun-drenched beaches. It will be known for murder…”

The book has a very similar vibe to Ms Candlish’s previous books – but if you have a format that creates Sunday Times bestsellers – why deviate?! It’s told from various characters points of view – including the DFLs (Down From Londons) and the local NJFA (Not Just For August) activists. There are lots of acronyms! Initially I found this a little bit confusing – as there were so many POVs (yes, I’ve thrown that one in just to be a d*ck!) and the time lines flick between pre and post ‘an awful event’ (no spoilers here, but it does happen very early doors in the book) – but once I settled into the book, the different perspectives actually made it really interesting.

The descriptions of Pine Ridge – and the Dorset coastline – are beautiful, and really evocative of a gorgeous hot summer (please let us have a gorgeous hot summer this year!) – and the claustrophobic weather adds to the claustrophobic feel of the book and the tension between many different parties.

I have to say that again, like previous books by the same author, none of the characters are particularly likeable – but that doesn’t stop you wanting to know what’s going to happen. The relationships between the parents and kids are really well written (although maybe that’s because I have kids of a similar age to the 2 couples?). Similarly the depiction of snobby middle class Daily Mail readers is also perfect!

There are little clues throughout about who the victim of the murder might be, but then the next chapter will throw cold water on your theory as someone else is in the frame as both murderer and murderee (possibly a word I’ve just made up…….)

The twists and turns are unpredictable – and there is not a neat ending all tied up with a bow – but I really enjoyed that.

A big thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for my advance review copy. You can pre order it now for release on 4 July 2024, and let’s face it – we’re all going to need fabulous books to escape to that day!!

Book Review: On The Edge by Sarah Turner

Posted on by Libby Price

I have thoroughly enjoyed Sarah Turner / The Unmumsy Mum’s writing – both on social media and her books – the most recent of which was her wonderful debut novel Stepping Up. When I heard that she had a new book out – I was delighted to bag an advance review copy from Net Galley. Here’s the blurb:

“Sometimes, in order to move forward, you need to go back.
Joni’s always felt like an outsider in her blended family, and as an adult she’s done all she can to avoid them. The only person she’s remained close to is her beloved Nana.
When Nana dies, she leaves behind something unexpected: an itinerary of pre-arranged activities for the whole family to complete over the course of a week. After years of trying but failing to bring Joni back into the fold, this appears to be Nana’s parting shot. After all, nothing says ‘family bonding’ quite like abseiling and ballroom dancing.
With marriage and kids on the horizon, the life Joni’s always dreamed of is finally within touching distance. The last thing she wants to do is revisit the past.
But Joni’s about to discover that a lot can happen in seven days. Nana’s Week of Fun is about to change everything…”

I really liked Joni from the off (although *potentially* this is because there were some similarities between us! I did a maths degree and Joni is a maths teacher. I like to be organised and plan, and I have been known to suck the fun out of things by trying to do them *right*. My kids still haven’t forgiven me for turning various historic art trails around Birmingham into military operations to ensure all exhibits were seen and photographed.) But I digress – back to Joni! Her lovely Nana has passed away, and has left a series of tasks for the family to do in order to release her ashes and will. Joni feels she ‘has’ to join in and do it – even when her waste of space boyfriend of 10 years, Lewis, bails on attending at the last minute. Joni clearly isn’t close to her Dad, step Mum and step siblings – so isn’t looking forward to it at all.

The book follows their week of family bonding – and various twists and turns. I LOVED the WhatsApp group messages. Nana’s friend Sue is fundamental to these – and was brilliant (in my head, she is very similar to Joyce from Richard Osman’s ‘Thursday Murder Club’ series). I also enjoyed the relationship between Joni and her step brother’s adopted son Stan (and his friend Bilbo) – I felt this was fundamental to the whole book.

Whilst there is a potential new love interest for Joni in the hunky instructor Tim – the complex blended family relationships are far more important to the storyline, and you begin to understand how decisions made many years ago have affected everyone’s lives. Whilst the truth is difficult – I was pleased for everyone that it came out (honestly, I sound like they’re my personal friends rather than characters in a book!)

This book had a lot to live up to, as I’d just finished a Mhairi McFarlane book that I’d adored – but I need not have been concerned, Sarah has written a book equally as fantastic. Her eloquence on family life and grief was beautifully portrayed – with clever wit and humour right through it too. Not often I give 5 stars on Net Galley – let alone back to back 5 star reviews for 2 books – how spoilt I feel at the moment!

Thank you to the aforementioned Net Galley, the publishers and, of course, Sarah for a really lovely book.

Book Review: You Belong With Me by Mhairi McFarlane

Posted on by Libby Price

First things first, I am a HUGE Mhairi McFarlane fan. If I’m ever asked for a book recommendation (which actually happens reasonably often, as I overshare my love of books to everyone!) my first question is always ‘have you read everything by Mhairi McFarlane yet?’ – and yes, I do explain to everyone ‘you say her name Vahree’. All of her books are wonderful, funny, clever, emotional, modern, beautifully written – and all round fabulous. However one did leave me begging for a sequel as you can see by my previous review of ‘Who’s That Girl?‘ – and 8 years later, Mhairi has delivered!

Here’s the blurb for her newest book ‘You Belong With Me’:

“She found The One. But when everyone wants him, can she keep him?
When there’s a ring on her doorbell on Christmas Day, there’s only one person Edie Thompson wants it to be. The person who’s still in her heart. The person who just might be The One.
She and Elliot Owen called it quits once before – but aren’t they too good together not to try? And here he is – offering her everything she dreamed of.
But dating Elliot, an actor, is anything but plain sailing. Being an ocean apart and followed by the press is one thing, but when Edie’s friends and Elliot’s family are drawn in, things get messy. Then her boss hires a friendly face in the form of Declan Dunne, who’s there for her when times are tough, and Edie starts to wonder … are she and Elliot a fairytale come true – or a cautionary fable about getting what you wish for?”

So immediately we find out who was at the door – phew! It’s what we all wanted all those years ago – and now we get to find out how the relationship between Edie and Elliot pans out. The fantastic supporting cast of the first book are all back to help – and sometimes hinder – things, along with new characters like Declan – who is thoroughly lovely as well (and an image of him naked will stay with me for a while!!)

I have to say there were certain times when I wanted to give both Edie and Elliott a good shake and tell them to talk to each other properly – but this did not detract from the storyline, I was still desperate to read on.

As it’s a Mhairi McFarlane book you expect twists and turns, and it did not disappoint. I’ve commented before about her use of modern technology and how it thus feels really real and modern – and yet again that’s fundamental to the storyline at times. The dialogue between the characters is, as ever, clever, witty and laugh out loud funny at times.

‘You Belong With Me’ is out in June 2024 – and I would highly recommend pre ordering now as a lovely gift to your future self! If you haven’t read the prequel ‘Who’s That Girl?’ then:

a. Why not?! and
b. I probably would if I were you – but you wouldn’t HAVE to as this would stand alone – but you might miss some of the historic references

Many thanks to Harper Collins, Net Galley – and of course Mhairi – for my advance review copy.

Book Review: The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

Posted on by Libby Price

I have thoroughly enjoyed Lucy Foley’s back catalogue – from her debut historical dramas to more recent large cast ensemble murder mysteries – so when I heard she had a new book out, it was a no brainer to request a copy from Net Galley. Here’s the blurb:

“Midsummer, the Dorset coast
In the shadows of an ancient wood, guests gather for the opening weekend of The Manor: a beautiful new countryside retreat.
But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. And the candles have barely been lit for a solstice supper when the body is found.
It all began with a secret, fifteen years ago. Now the past has crashed the party. And it’ll end in murder at…
THE MIDNIGHT FEAST”

The Midnight Feast has a very similar feel to recent Lucy Foley books – told from multiple points of view from different characters and over different timelines. You know that something awful has happened at a new countryside retreat and a dead body has been found on the beach – but you don’t know who the victim is until quite near the end of the book. The storyline jumps between present day – both pre and post the grisly discovery – but also back in time to the early 90s with extracts from one of the character’s teenage journals.

I have to say that what I’ve enjoyed about Lucy Foley’s books before is that they feel well written and ‘literary’ despite being contemporary fiction – but I found that the chapters from the flashbacks felt a bit forced and ‘she said, she did’. I can see that this is because it’s written in the style of a teenager – but I felt it made the book a little disjointed and not up to the usual standard of writing (but fully appreciate this is probably just my taste!)

There is also quite a lot of ‘black magic’ and mystical folklore referred to – specifically ‘the birds’, This is not my vibe at all – and I would actively avoid books with this in – or even TV programmes with such references – but I was happy to give it the benefit of the doubt and push on through because I’ve so enjoyed the author’s previous books! But this does mean I didn’t get references to ‘The Birds’ or ‘Midsommar’ as I’ve not seen or read either.

None of the characters are particularly likeable (apart from Eddie the barman) and all have their own secrets that as a reader you are party to from their chapters, and it’s interesting to see how these unravel and are revealed to other characters.

The descriptions of the countryside retreat are excellent – and you really get a feel for being there, and the suffocating heat – and the venue does sound amazing.

As you’d expect from a Lucy Foley book there are loads of twists and turns, with characters from the ‘flashback’ chapters intertwining with those in the current timeframe. Some I guessed, some with hindsight I should have guessed, and some were a complete shock – a perfect recipe to keep you just smug enough but still shocked and intrigued by the storyline.

Although I’ve been a bit moany, I really enjoyed the book and was desperate to see what happened in the end – and I thought the end very satisfactory in tying up lots of loose ends.

A big thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for my ARC – it’s out in early June 2024, so not long to wait – a perfect summer read.