What If It’s Us

I think it might just be book review time again… and my latest read was What If It’s Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli

Blurb: Meet Arthur and Ben. 

ARTHUR is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.
BEN thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.

But when the boys have a chance meeting at the post office, they leave wondering what exactly the universe does have in store for them. 

What if – in a city of eight million people – they can’t find each other again?

What if they do … and then can’t nail a first date even after three do-overs?

What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?

What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?

But what if it is? What if it’s us?

Rating: 4/5

My thoughts: After reading the amazing “Die at the End” books I was looking forward to more Adam Silvera and while this was a good fun read it didn’t quite have the same wow factor.

This is a gentle romance condensed over a few weeks during a New York summer. After meeting in a post office Ben and Arthur knew they wanted to get to know each other better… but they didn’t exchange information, so how could they find one another again in such a vast city?

A cute story of love and friendships, and what happens when the two collide.

I must admit that the constant references to Harry Potter made me cringe, but I guess the book was written before the truth about that franchise, and its author, were known. It would good to have it rewritten with a different fandom in its place, but that’s just my opinion 🙂

Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing

I don’t read many biographies (auto or otherwise), but I thought I would give this one a try.

Blurb: ‘Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.’

So begins the riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, taking us along on his journey from childhood ambition to fame to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. Before the frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab, there was five-year-old Matthew, who travelled from Montreal to Los Angeles, shuffling between his separated parents; fourteen-year-old Matthew, who was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada; twenty-four-year-old Matthew, who nabbed a coveted role as a lead cast member on the talked-about pilot then called Friends Like Us. . . and so much more.

In an extraordinary story that only he could tell – and in the heartfelt, hilarious, and warmly familiar way only he could tell it – Matthew Perry lays bare the fractured family that raised him (and also left him to his own devices), the desire for recognition that drove him to fame, and the void inside him that could not be filled even by his greatest dreams coming true. But he also details the peace he’s found in sobriety and how he feels about the ubiquity of Friends, sharing stories about his castmates and other stars he met along the way. Frank, self-aware, and with his trademark humour, Perry vividly depicts his lifelong battle with addiction and what fuelled it despite seemingly having it all.

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is an unforgettable memoir that is both intimate and eye-opening – as well as a hand extended to anyone struggling with sobriety. Unflinchingly honest, moving, and uproariously funny, this is the book fans have been waiting for.

Rating: 3/5

My thoughts: I was quite the Friends fan back in the day, even now I will often pop on an episode when there’s nothing else I fancy, or just as a comforting background noise. Yes there are parts of that show that might make me cringe but overall it tends to hold up as a good portrayal of friendship and love. So I was interesting in reading this and finding out a little more about the show, and one of my favourite characters in it… by the end of the book I knew very little about either!

The majority of this book is focussed on Matthew’s addiction battles which I would never want to play down, and I appreciate that this is a very important and major aspect of the man’s life, but I must admit that I was a little disappointed in how little of the actor’s life we learned about outside of drugs and alcohol.

At about half way through I was tempted to give up as the repetition of rehab stories continued, but I powered through to the end, and yes I can certainly appreciate the battles that Matthew Perry has gone though and thankfully finally won, but it didn’t make for the most gripping tale. If there had been more about his childhood, times in front of the camera, etc I think this would have lifted the book for me, as it is it was mildly interesting, but not the captivating read I had expected.

You’ve Reached Sam

I’m trying to read a little more this year – and so far so good.

My latest read was You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao and what did I think?? Well… this:

Blurb: Filled with the heartache of first love and loss, plus a touch of magic, Dustin Thao’s You’ve Reached Sam is an emotional romance, with a powerful story about knowing when to say goodbye.

‘Have your tissues at the ready when you dive into Dustin Thao’s emotional novel’ – PopSugar

Seventeen-year-old Julie has her future all planned out: move out of her small town with her boyfriend Sam, attend college in the city, spend a summer in Japan. But then Sam dies. And everything changes.

Desperate to hear his voice one more time, Julie calls Sam’s phone just to listen to his voicemail. And Sam picks up the phone . . .

What would you do if you had a second chance at goodbye?

Rating:5/5

My Thoughts: When Julie’s boyfriend dies in a terrible accident her whole world falls apart. They had their whole future planned out together, how is she meant to do it alone? And how can she move on without ever getting the chance to say goodbye?

I bought this book on a whim, I think it was on offer, and I am very glad I did. A unique love story which allows Julie the chance to reconnect with Sam – they don’t know how, or why, or for how long… but being able to say all the things which had gone unsaid might just be the only way to let Julie move on with her life.

A really enjoyable read, a few tears, a few smiles, and a wholly satisfying tale.

Good Girl, Bad Blood

You know you enjoyed a book when you look forward to the sequel… and the sequel to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder was my recent read Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

Blurb: The New York Times best-selling, brilliantly crafted crime-thriller sequel to the no.1 debut of 2019, A GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER.

A GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER IS THE WINNER OF THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS’ CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 AND SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE 2020

“Nail-biting, taut and pacy. Jackson [is] a homegrown thriller writer to watch.… – Guardian

Pip Fitz-Amobi is not a detective anymore.
With the help of Ravi Singh, she released a true-crime podcast about the murder case they solved together last year. The podcast has gone viral, yet Pip insists her investigating days are behind her.
But she will have to break that promise when someone she knows goes missing. Jamie Reynolds has disappeared but the police won’t do anything about it. And if they won’t look for Jamie then Pip will, uncovering more of her town’s dark secrets along the way& and this time EVERYONE is listening.
But will she find him before it’s too late?

Rating: 5/5

My Thoughts: Pip had hung up her detective shoes, after the consequences of her first investigation she was never going to put herself, put her family, through that again. But when her friend’s brother goes missing, and the police refuse to do anything, who else will? She can’t turn her back on the desperate pleas. She couldn’t live with herself if something had happened to Jamie and she hadn’t done all she could to help.

Once again Pip throws herself into investigating a possible crime that most people don’t even believe happened, and once again she risks the fury of a very dangerous person.

Another gripping case and a good read.

And yes, I will be reading the next book too 🙂

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Last night I finished another great book – Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Blurb: Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.

In an attempt to prove himself a true brujo and gain his family’s acceptance, Yadriel decides to summon his cousin’s ghost and help him cross to the afterlife.

But things get complicated when he accidentally summons the ghost of his high school’s resident bad boy, Julian Diaz – and Julian won’t go into death quietly.

The two boys must work together if Yadriel is to move forward with his plan.

But the more time Yadriel and Julian spend together, the harder it is to let each other go.

My Rating: 5/5

My Thoughts: Yadriel is a brujo, he knows he is, but his family cannot accept that. Brujo’s are men, only natural born men, and Yadriel is trans.

In an attempt to prove himself Yadriel accidentally summons the ghost of Julian Diaz – and now Yadriel has to find out why before ultimately releasing Julian’s spirit, just as a brujo does.

As they spend more time together Yadriel realises that he doesn’t want to let Julian go, but at the same time he has no right to keep him around.

This is a great story, part mystery, part romance – a wonderful back story of a community of people who are intimately connected to the world of spirits

Fully recommend this 🙂

The First to Die at the End

Yes, it’s not been long since I finished the amazing “They Both Die at the End” but I could not resist getting right onto the sequel “The First to Die at the End” by Adam Silvera

Blurb: It’s the night before Death-Cast goes live, and there’s one question on everyone’s mind: Can Death-Cast actually predict death, or is it an elaborate hoax? Orion Pagan has waited years for someone to tell him that he’s going to die, given his serious heart condition. Valentino Prince has a long and promising future ahead of him and only registered for Death-Cast after his twin sister nearly died in a car accident.
 
Orion and Valentino cross paths in Times Square and immediately feel a deep connection. But when the first End Day calls go out, their lives are changed for ever – one of them receives a call . . . the other doesn’t.
 
Told with acclaimed author Adam Silvera’s signature bittersweet touch, this story celebrates the lasting impact that people have on each other and proves that life is always worth living to the fullest. 
 

Rating: 5/5

My Thoughts: Set at the start of Death-Cast this story follows Orion and Valentino who meet at the Death-Cast launch party – a day which will change both of their lives forever, unfortunately only one of them get out of the story with a forever.

I especially enjoyed how the incidental characters are weaved into the story – even though it’s not immediately obvious how important they may be. I did shed a tear at the little cameo appearance of the young Mateo and Rufus (from the first book), a lovely little moment.

As with the first book, the ending was heartbreakingly beautiful and I genuinely hope to get more tales set in the world of Death-Cast.

They Both Die at the End

I’ve been meaning to read this book for a while, so, yesterday I finally opened the cover, and today I turned the final page.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Blurb: A love story with a difference – an unforgettable tale of life, loss and making each day count in the INTERNATIONAL NO. 1 BESTSELLING book of TIKTOK fame, clocking up 80 million views and counting! The First to Die at the End, the prequel to They Both Die at the End, is now available to pre-order in hardback, coming October 2022.

On September 5th, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: they’re going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: there’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure – to live a lifetime in a single day. 

Rating: 5/5

My Thoughts: When you get a call from Death-Cast you know your end is coming – there is no getting out of it, all you can do is choose how to live your End Day.
Two teenage boys – who could not be more different – get that call and, via the Last Friend app, they learn how to make the most of life, even if they only have a few hours of it left.
A gorgeous tale of love, loss, and learning to live.
And yes, I had a few tears at the end
Loved it

Sixteen Souls

So until recently Rosie Talbot was nothing more than the woman with the lovely speaking voice known as Merrowchild on tiktok. Yes she sells books, yes she talks a lot about books… but did that mean she could actually WRITE one? As much as I liked how the book was described I wasn’t sure if I was going to give it a go… and then it got put on offer and it was as if something was telling me to just try it.. you might like it… and did I??

Well let me tell you about Sixteen Souls

Blurb: Someone is stripping Europe’s most haunted city of its spirits. When self-destructive, 16-year-old seer, Charlie Frith, realises that one of his own ghostly friends has gone missing, he must put aside his own safety – and reclusive existence – if he is to find them.

Charlie reluctantly teams up with Sam Harrow – the new seer in town – and a rag-tag group of ghosts, to save their friends from a fate literally worse than death.

But there is a dark purpose behind these disappearances – more sinister than Charlie could ever have imagined. And, as he slowly comes to terms with his romantic feelings for Sam, the stakes become even higher as time quickly runs out!

• Perfect for fans of Cemetery Boys, Becky Albertalli and V E Schwab.
• #SixteenSouls has more than a-quarter-of-a-million views on TikTok and counting.
• A must-read for all young adult fans with intricately plotted mystery, sublime world-building and fantastically diverse cast of characters.

Rating: 5/5

My thoughts: I was hooked on this story right from the first chapter. The character, the relationships, the whole arc of the story and its ongoing reveals – perfection!

At the start of the book Charlie is somewhat of a loner – his ability to see, and interact with, the dead has caused him to pull away from the people in his life. How can he explain why he does what he does, or the strange things that happen around him? Maybe it’s just easier to be the friendless weirdo.

When Charlie meets the strangely appealing Sam his entire life starts to change. Sam brings the news of the disappearance of many of Yorks ghosts and something needs to be done about it… who can help but those who see ghosts and know they even exist?

This story grows with every page, as does the relationship between Charlie and Sam.

Is Sam all he appears to be?

Who is taking the ghosts and why?

Is Charlie really able to stop it?

Will life ever be the same again?

If you want to know the answer to those questions (and believe me you DO), then grab a copy of this book today and enjoy the ride!

How to Kill Men and Get Away with it…

Okay… before anyone gets worried, this is a book review – not a list of instructions 🙂

How to Kill Men and Get Away with it by Katy Brent

Blurb: Meet Kitty Collins.
FRIEND. LOVER. KILLER.

Have you ever walked home at night, keys in hand, ready to throw a punch in self-defence? That’s how it all started. The killing spree, I mean.

I sort of tripped into this role… Literally. The first one was following me. That guy from the nightclub who wouldn’t leave me alone. I pushed him, he stumbled, and fell onto his own broken wine bottle. Oops. It was such a waste of a good house white.

But now I can’t seem to stop and nor do I want to… I’ve got a taste for revenge and quite frankly, I’m killing it.

A deliciously dark, hilariously twisted story about friendship, love, and murder. Fans of My Sister the Serial Killer, How to Kill Your Family and Killing Eve will love this wickedly clever novel!

My Rating: 5/5

My Thoughts: A wickedly fun tale of a seemingly perfect life which hold some very dark secrets. As a social media influence Kitty Collins has everything, the beauty, the friends, the money… what more could you ask for?

But then there are those men, you know the ones, they just can’t take no for an answer… they buy you a drink and somehow that entitles them to something in return? When one such man chooses to follow Kitty home, well it’s not her fault if, in the process of fighting him off, he falls onto his own broken wine bottle and dies… But what it doesn’t do is make Kitty feel bad, if anything there is a satisfaction in knowing such a man is no longer free to do the same, or worse, to another woman.

Unfortunately it does give her a taste for it… and before long the number of bodies just seem to be stacking up… still, it’s all for a good reason. Right?

A fab balance of a dark tale with humour mixed in. I really enjoyed this book and will look out for more by the author in future

All That’s Left in the World – Erik J Brown

Time to tell you about another book I’ve just finished… and this time’s it’s the post-apocalyptic story All That’s Left in the World by Erik J Brown

Blurb: Jamie and Andrew are strangers, but they’re two of the last people left alive. They don’t know what they’ll find on their dangerous journey … but they may just find each other. A queer romance about courage, hope and humanity for fans of They Both Die at the End, The Hunger Games and Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda.

When the Superflu wipes out most of the population, Jamie finds himself completely alone in a cabin in the woods – until an injured stranger crosses his path.

Life is dangerous now and, armed with a gun, Jamie goes to pull the trigger. But there’s something about Andrew … something that stops Jamie in his tracks. Jamie takes him in, and as Andrew heals and they eventually step out into the strange new world, their relationship starts to feel like more than just friendship …

But trouble isn’t far behind. As the boys make a perilous journey south, they’ll come face to face with a world torn apart and society in ruins. And who, or what, will they find waiting for them at the end of it all?

My Rating: 5/5

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this story, a tale not only of finding love in a world that has fallen apart, but also finding hope. Alone Andrew and Jamie are struggling to get by, but together they give each other strength to face whatever the crazy new world might throw at them.

The love story element of this story is gentle and happens over time as a friendship grows into something more, something worth fighting for, or maybe even worth killing for.