Here's what I've been reading in January. Copies marked * I've generously received from the publisher either directly or via Netgalley.
*The Other You by J S Monroe - I took part in the blog tour for this twisty read. See my review HERE. I absolutely loved it.
The Handmaid's Tale - by Margaret Atwood - The Grapic Novel by Renee Nault - this was bought with some of my Christmas Amazon vouchers. I devoured it in one sitting. It brings the whole story to graphic life. If you are a fan, you'll love it.
*Codename Villanelle by Luke Jennings - being a fan of "Killing Eve" I was keen to read the book the TV show is based on. There are many similarities and it's easy to place those we know from the show in the story.
We hear a lot about the mysterious organisation Villanelle works for and her back story too which is fascinating. We also remember how MI5 operative, Eve meets her husband Nikos before her obsession with assasin Villanelle takes over...
It's a brilliant read, fast paced and thrilling and #2 is nestling on my kindle right now. Book #3 will be picked up on launch date. Just great. Really recommend.
On My Life by Angela Clarke - Jenna is accused of murdering her soon to be stepdaughter and killing her fiance as well as hiding his body! The police also find something incriminating on her laptop and she's sent to prison even though she knows she's innocent. She finds herself in a nightmare and she's got no idea of how to get out. The story is fast paced and oh so twisty. She hides what she's been accused of but one of the most violent prisoners know and she makes Jenna's life unbearable. Prison life has been described so vividly you honestly feel you are there with her.
Her legal representation is pretty ineffectual and she lives for the infrequent visits by her mum and sister. When she finds out she's pregnant she must hide it for as long as she can... and I never expected that twist! A brilliant read.
*Dominicana by Angie Cruz - Fifteen year old Ana is married off to a man double her age with whom she has nothing in common. Her family see it as a stepping stone to other things including them joining her in America. Her husband Juan takes her away from her beloved Dominican Republic to start married live in America, New York City to be precise.
It's a shock to the system and Ana is confused, frightened and sometimes scared. They live on the top floor of a block of flats and with her husband, Juan working a lot she gets lonely and homesick. She decides one day that's it, she's going home only to meet Cesar, Juan's younger brother at the bus depot who persuades her not to leave.
With political turmoil brewing back home Juan leaves pregnant Ana in the care of his brother - she learns how to live life to the full - going to school, going shopping, starting a small business with Cesar - feeding his colleagues with food from home, having fun, going to the beach - all the while growing closer to Cesar. As her feelings deepen she has to decide not only what's best for her but also her loving family back home.
I just loved Ana! She grows into a strong woman in the course of the book, who knows what she wants. The story is based on the author's own mother's story as an immigrant and others from the period in the 1960s. I so recommend it.
*Pine by Francine Toon - Lauren, her father and their dog, Jameson live alone at the edge of the forest in a tiny village in the Scottish Highlands. Everyone knows everyone else (and their business). Lauren's mother, Christine has been missing for 10 years. Her father, Niall can't bear talking about her so her daughter knows only what she can glean from others in the village. She was the love of his life and he misses her deeply, drinking to forget.
One Halloween night they are driving back home and spot a woman in the road and take her home. In the morning when Lauren awakens she is gone. Her dad denies all knowledge of her but Lauren sees her around and wonders. There are also strange circles left on the land and eerie happenings.
An atmospheric tale which is creepy and dark with a few twists along the way. I would really recommend.
From last month (awaiting publication):
*American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins - Lydia Quixano Perez, her journalist husband and young son, Luca live a middle class life in Acapulco, Mexico. She's a bookshop owner and loves her life. Her husband has written a tell-all story on the local jefe of the newest drug cartel and Lydia is surprised when she finds out it's about Javier, the man who buys books from her store and with whom she's formed a friendship.
They should have taken more care and been more aware there could have been a backlash from the story he wrote. A tragedy changes the family's lives forever and Lydia and Luca find themselves on the run. The safest place for them to be is in America, away from the reach of the cartels. The story is fast paced, harrowing, tense and you really feel their fear. They meet two sister, Soledad & Rebecca who teach them how to ride the gruelling la bestia to reach el norte, taking them further away from their lives before and from the grasp of Javier and the cartel. An outstanding book which was one of my top reads last year.
*If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane - 36 year old Laurie has been in a relationship with Dan for 18 years. They met at University and he's the love of her life and she vice versa - or so she thought.. They work at the same law firm and live together so when he drops the bombshell that he feels they should split up she's understandably devastated.
She wants to keep it from her colleagues for as long as possible - but when she hears on the grapevine that Dan hasn't told her the real reason for their split she knows she can't contain the truth for much longer.
One evening she's stuck in a lift with drop-dead-gorgeous Jamie, a hot-shot young lawyer and they discuss her situation. He suggests they pretend to be dating - for her to get back at Dan and let him see what he's missing and for him to raise his chances of advancing his career. It's a win-win situation..or is it?
Laurie's best pal from Uni days, Emily believes it'll end in tears but once she sees Jamie in the flesh she readily agrees it's a great idea! Along with loved up (and sexy) instagram photos and gushingly real Facebook messages their colleagues can't or won't believe it's for real and one of Laurie's Alpha Male colleagues has the audacity to believe he should have been first in line for her affections!
A meeting with her estranged dad takes her back to her past and her mum and Jamie help her come to terms with it. She meets Jamie's mum, dad and best pal who think she's wonderful and as she grows closer to him, she begins to fall head-over-heels but has to keep reminding herself it never can be.. A gorgeous novel I fell totally in love with. It has sadness, heartache, friendship, funny moments, happiness and ultimately love. Amazing read.
What have you been reading this month?
