These are the best of the bunch and ones to read as you go on your summer holiday....
The one set in Corfu:
Catherine Swift is a bestselling romance author, but her personal story hasn’t been quite so successful; three failed marriages have left her relationship with her daughters strained. Engaged once again, Catherine is counting on this wedding, at her villa in Corfu, to finally bring the family together.
Review:
Another brilliant read from this author. Fun, romance and lots of secrets to unravel. Corfu is perfect backdrop to a tricksy family dynamic and lots of drama and shocks for lots of characters. Some surprise romance too.
Loved it.
The non fiction one:
Friendaholic unpacks the significance and evolution of friendship. From exploring her own personal friendships and the distinct importance of each of them in her life, to the unique and powerful insights of others across the globe, Elizabeth asks why there isn’t yet a language that can express its crucial influence on our world.
From ghosting and frenemies to social media and seismic life events, Elizabeth leaves no stone unturned. Friendaholic is the book you buy for the people you love but it's also the book you read to become a better friend to yourself.
Review: This is the book I didn't know I needed.
Packed with a great mix of stories from so many different point of view.
Lots of research that I found fascinating.
Sentimental as well as fun, a superb blend of emotions.
The ending is just so lovely. This author has hit the right note again, absolutely.
The sentimental one:
It's 1980, Liverpool, Robyn is happy living with May, her nan. She is safe and well cared for. When her nan dies, sixteen-year-old Robyn finds herself homeless. She dreams of finding her father and finding a home. But she has no idea where to begin her search. Imagine Living opens as Robyn is working in her first job, in Waterford's Bakery. It is here she meets an array of characters who befriend her, but some of the characters are dangerous, searching for the most vulnerable in society to exploit. Robyn must find ways to escape them, as she is forced into navigating her own way in the world, doing her utmost to stay alive.
Review:
I adored this, felt for Robyn so much from the off and the love for her only got deeper. This tackles grief in such a realistic way, and made it so relatable. I also felt immersed in the 80s with other themes in the book. Emotional, thought provoking, very well written. The author gets to the heart and soul of her characters.
See Deborah's Waterstone Liverpool event here: An evening with Deborah Morgan | Events at Waterstones Bookshops
The perfect escapism one:
A dream home?
Beca Valentino is ready to escape the city. When she sees the perfect house for sale in her hometown, it seems like fate. Is this her chance to build the foster family she dreams of, on the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast?
A big mistake?
Returning home isn't as easy as she thought, however. Her family's beloved ice cream café is gone - turned into a soulless wine bar by her hateful ex-boyfriend. Reconnecting with her oldest friend, fisherman Griff, isn't straightforward either. And when, instead of the children she expected to take in, two wary teenage boys appear on her doorstep, Beca fears she's made a terrible mistake.
A recipe for change
But an old family recipe book is just the inspiration she needs. Soon, with a little help from friends old and new, Beca is selling mouth-watering homemade gelato from a pop-up café on the beach.
Then disaster strikes. Will the Valentino family legacy be lost forever? Or can Beca create a new recipe for happiness?
Review: As always, Jo gives us a sentimental, heart warming story.. and the food of this read is clearly gelato! Swoon.
Love the west Wales setting, with a little bit of the language thrown in for good measure. Also came with it was the familiar sense of everyone knowing everyone, and their history, always good fun.
Great to see a fostering storyline at the heart of this read too. A subject not widely talked about enough in my opinion.
The thrilling historical one:
1876, Victorian London. Minnie Ward, a feisty scriptwriter for the Variety Palace Music Hall, is devastated when her best friend is found brutally murdered. She enlists the help of private detective Albert Easterbrook to help her find justice.
Together they navigate London, from its high-class clubs to its murky underbelly. But as the bodies pile up, they must rely on one another if they’re going to track down the killer – and make it out alive . . .
Review: From the first few pages, this gave me Tipping the Velvet vibes, so I knew I was in for an excellent read- and I was right.
Packed with suspense, and a tension that doesn't let up the whole way through, the intrigue surrounding this is unstoppable.
A fantastic and ferocious heroine with Minnie, who is real force. Teamed up with Albert is a great pairing. Some tricky characters that kept me on my toes, and guessing the whole way through.
The ending (no spoilers) is superb.
The 'if you fancy reading something a little different' one:
Brighton, 2016. Laurie wears the scar given to her by a policeman’s baton as a mark of pride among her circle of bright young activists. Her conscionable but sensitive brother George should be a part of that circle, until the appearance of enigmatic Spanish migrant Antonio threatens to divert him from his sister’s world of marches and moral accountability.
As the clouds gather over Brighton and the EU referendum accelerates both Laurie’s political zeal and Antonio’s ambiguous desires, George is faced with the fact that their city of parties and protests is suddenly a place where the possibility of saving the world – as well as the people around him – is in jeopardy of being lost forever.
At once a letter of support to everyone disillusioned by British politics, and a deeply perceptive snapshot of modern relationships, A Bad Decade for Good People is a captivating state-of-the-nation tale that begs the question: when it feels like the world is falling apart, how do you keep those you love from doing the same?
Review:
This is a real force and reflection of our time. Powerful, and with a striking start which gripped me in from the first few lines.
Its unusual to see young people so passionate about politics and fighting for their country/future and justice and this works well with this spin.
Some beautiful prose with this, and an even more sentimental and thought provoking storyline.
One that will stay with me.
I hope you've found something from my top picks! Happy reading, and have a lovely summer.
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