Romance – Page 23 – My Good Reads

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend – Katarina Bivald

Sara is 28 and has never been outside Sweden – except in the (many) books she reads. When her elderly penfriend Amy invites her to come and visit her in Broken Wheel, Iowa, Sara decides it’s time. But when she arrives, there’s a twist waiting for her – Amy has died. Finding herself utterly alone in a dead woman’s house in the middle of nowhere was not the holiday Sara had in mind.

But Sara discovers she is not exactly alone. For here in this town so broken it’s almost beyond repair are all the people she’s come to know through Amy’s letters: poor George, fierce Grace, buttoned-up Caroline and Amy’s guarded nephew Tom.

Sara quickly realises that Broken Wheel is in desperate need of some adventure, a dose of self-help and perhaps a little romance, too. In short, this is a town in need of a bookshop.

When I read this description on NetGalley I was thinking this would be a quirky romance, and I couldn’t help but ask for a digital copy to review before the novel is released in January. I’m grateful for the advance copy, but it really wasn’t what I expected.

Perhaps there was something lost in translation but this felt like a love story that was desperate to call itself anything but. This was perfect for curling up in front of the fire with, but not one I’d return to or will probably really remember later in the year.

‘Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda’ – Becky Albertalli

When we meet Simon Spier he’s enthralled by the mysterious Blue, the only person in school that knows Simon is gay. Through their email exchanges we see how Simon is coming to terms with who he is. Then one of Simon’s emails is seen by the wrong person and things become more than a little complicated.

While this is a story about coming out and issues surrounding being homosexual, it was also a story about friendships and learning to accept who you are/how you engage with those around you.

At times I did feel the whole experience was a little saccharine – I’m not sure how positive an experience this would be in reality. That aside, this was a witty and enjoyable read.

I spent most of the book, like Simon, second-guessing the identity of Blue. By the time we’re told who Blue is I was hoping for the feel good ending. I wasn’t disappointed.

Anna Dressed in Blood – Kendare Blake

A beautiful cover and one that I wanted to love as soon as I read the description. I wasn’t disappointed.

Cas Lowood is a ghost-hunter with something to prove. When he moves to a new home he expects this latest kill to be the same as all the others. It isn’t.

I don’t want to give too much away, but this was what a good friend of mine referred to as “a cracking good read”. Witty, romantic and very well-written I can see this appealing to a wide range of readers.

The minute I’d finished it, I went and reserved a copy of part two – Girl of Nightmares – and wondered how I’d managed to not spot this series when it was first published.

‘Everything, Everything’ – Nicola Yoon

I’d read a number of reviews of this before I started reading, and they didn’t fill me with optimism. I fully expected to be annoyed by this, and maybe not even finish it – how wrong!

From the outset, the world that Maddie inhabits is claustrophobic. Her whole life has been lived in a sterile bubble and her contact with the outside world is limited to interaction with her mother, nurse and the occasional tutor. Even when I am feeling at my most anti-social there is no better feeling than to go outside and feel the wind on your skin and to smell the air. i cannot even begin to imagine how it would feel to have to remain inside in order to live. Is it really living?

With the setting clearly established, Yoon quite quickly introduces Olly, the character who is going to turn Maddy’s assumptions about the world on their head. Olly is the teenage son of the newly-arrived couple next door. Of course, they strike up a bond and Maddy ends up falling in love. Some reviews have commented on the implausibility of this relationship, but both are damaged in their own way and they each offer something that the other needs. Their conversations are witty and endearing, and I was firmly rooting for them throughout.

We are given little clues that there is more to Maddy’s illness than initially shared, so the ending doesn’t really come as any surprise. Maddy is one of the most intriguing characters I’ve come across in recent YA fiction, and I will certainly be recommending it to many of my students.

Once again I have to thank NetGalley for a free digital copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

‘The Tea Planter’s Wife’ – Dinah Jeffries

Due to be released in September 2015, this book tells the story of 19-year-old Gwendolyn Hooper. When she leaves England she is full of hope for her new life as the second wife of tea plantation owner, Laurence. Upon her arrival it is clear that her new home and family harbour many secrets, some of which will have far-reaching consequences for Gwen.

The opening of the novel had a languid feel to it, with beautiful and evocative descriptions of another land. Seeing this new land through Gwen’s eyes means we also focus on the issues surrounding race and colonialism that would have been prevalent in Ceylon at this time.

The novel was not what I expected at all. The bitter choice that Gwen makes early on has far-reaching consequences, the effects of which are only fully revealed later. The cast of characters kept me intrigued, and I think this is a novel that would warrant a re-read (if I could bear to put myself through the emotional wringer again!)

One of my unexpected pleasures of my summer holiday reading, and I thank Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

‘Awake’ – Natasha Preston

A really mixed bag of reviews for this, and it does seem to be something of a love it or loathe it kind of book. I received a free digital copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing I will say is that this is the kind of book that you will race through if you can get over the rather awful beginning. I’m some way out of my teens and perhaps just a little sceptical to have fallen for the rapidity with which Scarlett falls for the new boy in school, Noah. However, with the story being told from varying perspectives it is quickly clear that there is more to Noah than meets the eye.

As so many readers have pointed out, not having many memories before the age of four is quite normal. As we learn more about why Scarlett has ‘forgotten’ her memories we get drawn in to the world of the Eternal Light. I know very little about how cults operate, but I can’t imagine so many people would remain in this kind of environment without questioning some of the things that occur within it – certainly not based on what we learn about the group from within the pages of the novel.

I won’t reveal plot details here because one of the things that kept me reading was the way this could never be pinned down in the way you might expect. This could have been a powerful book. It’s readable, and if you stick with it you will probably enjoy it. Unfortunately, you then start to realise all the things that are nonsensical within the novel, and find reasons to pick holes in it. The ending also felt horribly contrived in order to leave the way open for a follow-on. For me this was a novel that was full of promise, that didn’t really deliver.

‘Another Day’ and ‘Every Day’- David Levithan

1st August – I received a free digital copy of ‘Another Day’ – which isn’t due to be published until August 25th 2015 – from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing I have to do is admit that I haven’t read the companion book, Every Day. I would imagine that for people who know the story this would only be of interest to get a different perspective of events. Coming to the story fresh, as I did, meant I spent the first part of the story confused and trying to establish just who was who, and how their stories were linked. However, once the basic story was set up I was hooked.

The idea behind the story of A is fascinating. Each day allows us to see another facet of Rhiannon’s character, and to explore concepts about identity.

I will amend my review once the book has been published, but it should be enough to let you know that I’ve already downloaded the previous book and am looking forward to seeing how it changes my reading of the story.

18th August – Having now read ‘Every Day’ I found interesting to see how the two books complemented one another. Of course, nothing new is really added in this original version in terms of the plot but seeing the events through the eyes of A meant some of the blanks are filled in. If I had one gripe it’s that there’s never a satisfactory reason given for the pull between these two characters, but I am curious to see whether or not the mysterious Poole is to become the focus of another story.

‘Pillow Talk’ – Freya North

I confess to having a bit of a soft spot for romantic fiction by certain writers – Lisa Jewel, Jill Mansell, Freya North – and there were parts of this book that I loved. Unfortunately, I felt more than a little detached from this book and I can’t quite put my finger on the reason.

The idea of two high-school sweethearts who meet again after seventeen years did, I confess, set alarm bells ringing. If you haven’t been in touch with someone for that length of time, there’s usually a good reason. When their high-school relationship is actually revealed – a chaste kiss, some meaningful looks and a handful of conversations – I know we’re meant to realise they’re soulmates who are destined to be together, but I just felt they were deluded.

Putting my own prejudices aside, I felt there were some lovely moments within the novel. The relationship between the young Petra and her mentor Lillian was heart-warming, and the gradual breaking down of the barriers between Petra and Arlo when they meet again had me yearning for things to work out between them. Some of the minor characters annoyed me intensely, and I found it hard to get past this.

Reading this book was like deciding to eat the whole Easter egg when you were young. It felt good at the time, if self-indulgent, but left you wishing you hadn’t bothered at the end.

Adele Parks – ‘If You Go Away’

At the start of the novel Vivian Foster is a passionate and somewhat wilful young woman, throwing herself into her debutante season in the hope of securing a suitable marriage. The start of the novel was what some might call a slow-burner. Vivian was not particularly likeable, but her passion and temperament became clear early on as her parents try to manage the fallout from her indiscretion. Rushed into a marriage, as I assume many might have been, Vivian’s life seemed destined to be one that would not bring fulfilment.

When War is declared on the day of her wedding, Vivian’s new husband determines to do his duty and volunteers for action. Vivian is left to move to the country and manage her husband’s estate, as everyone is encouraged to do their bit. Howard Henderson, a brilliant young playwright, also gets involved in the war, as a journalist reporting on the scenes at the Front. He is scarred by what he sees in these early years, and when conscription becomes law in 1916 he refuses to join up. Imprisoned for his beliefs, Howard becomes one of the country’s most famous conscientious objectors. He narrowly escapes a death sentence by agreeing to carry out essential farming work for Vivian.

From their first meeting, the attraction between these two characters is evident and the relationship between them seems inevitable, though socially unacceptable. If it were not for the backdrop of the War, their story would have been very different but, as a reader, I’m so pleased that it panned out as it did.

An absorbing novel, and the blending of historical detail within this story was fascinating. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year.

‘The Versions of Us’ – Laura Barnett

As a young child, I went through a phase of being heavily addicted to those Choose Your Own Adventure books. I loved the concept of different choices resulting in different outcomes. Sometimes it worked; all too often it didn’t, but I loved the idea that you could get varying outcomes depending on what you did. So, you can imagine how excited I was when I spotted this while browsing one day. I’m not sure Waterstones were doing it any favours by describing it as a literary ‘Sliding Doors’ (unless they’re subconsciously trying to appeal to Gwyneth Paltrow fans) but the whimsical notion of following someone through three different versions of their life was intriguing.

When Eva and Jim first meet, they are nineteen year old students at Cambridge in the late 1950s. Jim is walking along a lane when a woman approaching him on a bike swerves to avoid a dog. What happens next depends on which thread of the story you are reading.

Following the three separate threads was, I feared, going to prove something of a stumbling block but this couldn’t have been further from the truth. None of the strands quite worked out as I’d have liked, but I was fascinated by the varying stories. I loved the way little details reoccured within strands, each time slightly different. Barnett’s writing style was confident and controlled, capably guiding us through the different permutations of the stories.

I’ve recommended this to so many people already, and would love to see this adapted (as long as they didn’t put Gwyneth Paltrow in it!)

I was looking for something a bit different, and I think I found it here.