Can you imagine a Britain where there is never any interruption to the water supply? In this dystopian YA thriller, the state maintains calm in the poCan you imagine a Britain where there is never any interruption to the water supply? In this dystopian YA thriller, the state maintains calm in the population by drugging everyone through the drinking water. Teigan and Owyn are resistors – they are no longer affected by the water and so they can feel real emotions which puts them in danger from the regime. Their aim to join the Resistance leads to a tense “cat and mouse” existence, trying to keep one step ahead of a cruel regime which seeks to repress them. I enjoyed the twists and turns as Teigan and Owyn find out who they can trust and who will betray them. Whilst I was invested in the story and I liked the characters who helped them, I felt that the ending was a bit rushed and unsatisfying almost as if a sequel was planned. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC ...more
You just don’t know what is going on under the surface! The story is full of a foreboding feeling of claustrophobia as what starts as a (fairly) innoceYou just don’t know what is going on under the surface! The story is full of a foreboding feeling of claustrophobia as what starts as a (fairly) innocent desire to experience a party in the catacombs morphs into something much more scary when Ruby and her friends get lost in 200 miles of tunnels under Paris. I will absolutely be purchasing this fast-paced horror thriller for my library. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC...more
Teenagers Kat and Liam find themselves at a party in a billionaire’s compound having tagged along with their respective parents’ nefarious schemes. KaTeenagers Kat and Liam find themselves at a party in a billionaire’s compound having tagged along with their respective parents’ nefarious schemes. Kat’s mum Jamie is on a final “job” before going straight whilst Liam’s dad Luke is a conman up to his usual tricks. When someone dies at the party, what should have been a fairly straightforward heist turns into something much more deadly for Kat and her mum. This YA mystery has a complex plot but the pacing is perfectly pitched so that the reader can keep up with all the twists, turns and reveals. When you think the mystery is solved, there is yet another layer and another player to be discovered. I loved the relationship between the teenagers in this book as they gradually work out who to trust. I have read other books by Karen McManus and for me, this is the best yet. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC....more
Lexicographers at the CED office in Oxford receive a series of mysterious postcards and letters. They realise they refer to a colleague’s missing sistLexicographers at the CED office in Oxford receive a series of mysterious postcards and letters. They realise they refer to a colleague’s missing sister Charlie and work together to solve a series of puzzles which lead to clues to solve the mystery of what happened to her. I was looking forward to reading Susie Dent’s first novel as I knew it would contain a bounty of obscure or interesting words. However, in the opening chapters there were so many unfamiliar words that I felt I needed to take up residence in Dictionary Corner and this made getting into the book a bit of a challenge. Once the story gets going a clever mystery plot takes over with only the occasional side-track into the origins of words. I enjoyed the mystery, the camaraderie between the amateur sleuths in the CED office and the cryptic trail of clues. If you like words, cryptic puzzles and rare books you will love this. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. ...more
Estranged half-siblings Nora and Sam are not satisfied that their father Liam’s recent death was accidental and so they travel to his estate in CalifoEstranged half-siblings Nora and Sam are not satisfied that their father Liam’s recent death was accidental and so they travel to his estate in California to do a bit of investigating of their own. Their father had been married three times, keeping each part of his life separate from the next making their investigation difficult. The book is part murder mystery and part romance with a narrative that switches between the present day and a past timeline that tracks Liam’s relationship over the decades with someone called Cory. The storyline reveals the secrets that are kept over decades and the family dynamics which result. The resolution to the mystery is surprising but it is the journey that Nora and Sam take to find out what really happened to their father, find each other for the first time and take control of their own careers and relationships which I found enjoyable. Thank to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. ...more
Suzy Button is grieving for her mother who died a year ago, she is struggling at school where the class mean girls seem to target her and there is no Suzy Button is grieving for her mother who died a year ago, she is struggling at school where the class mean girls seem to target her and there is no support from her father who is stuck in his own bubble of grief. Despite her fear of the dark, she goes outside at night and makes a wish to the moon. The next day things start to change for the better. A new girl called Rhiannon joins her class and becomes her friend, changing Suzy’s life and allowing her to move on. But who is Rhiannon? Why does she never mention her home life and how does she seem to make things happen? This is a lovely YA read. Set in Ireland, the descriptive writing is so evocative of Suzy’s seaside home, I felt like I had been through the tunnel to one of the beach parties myself! The friendships which develop between Suzy and Pod, Jazzy, Derry and Paul feel so authentic and heartwarming and the mystical element of the story weaves into the background without ever becoming unrealistic. We really get to know Suzy as she re-engages with life, starts to take risks and find herself again. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC....more
I usually enjoy a fast paced YA mystery thriller but I just couldn’t connect with this one. The story is told from the point of view of Dani and her cI usually enjoy a fast paced YA mystery thriller but I just couldn’t connect with this one. The story is told from the point of view of Dani and her character was well established as being unreliable, holding many secrets and choosing her moment to use them against someone. But for me there were too many under-developed characters without a back story or any idea as to their motivations. It can be difficult to build tension and explore the plot in such a short story so it was hard sometimes to work out why the girls were behaving in that way and the total absence of likeable characters meant there was no-one to get behind. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC...more
Slow Dance is a slow burn romance of the “will they, won’t they” variety. Cary and Shiloh have had an intense relationship since high school when theySlow Dance is a slow burn romance of the “will they, won’t they” variety. Cary and Shiloh have had an intense relationship since high school when they were very close friends, extremely comfortable in other’s company, then an absence of contact for many years when they missed each other intensely. Their eventual reunion at a friend’s wedding would surely be their chance to begin again. The timeline flips back and forth between then and now with “now” driving the plot whilst the flashbacks filled out the backstory. Wasted time due to missed opportunities and missed signals perfectly captures the bold assumptions of youth – that there will be other people, there will be other chances so there’s no need to hold on to this one. The pacing is slow at the start and it took me a while to connect with the characters and become invested in the outcome but it was well worth reading to the end. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC...more
Two Sides to Every Murder is a YA horror thriller, full of foreboding and violent outbursts. Set in a disused summer camp with a plot involving teenagTwo Sides to Every Murder is a YA horror thriller, full of foreboding and violent outbursts. Set in a disused summer camp with a plot involving teenagers trying to solve a cold case murder, it has all the ingredients of a contemporary YA thriller. The story feels fast paced with lots of ill judged "making a run for it" whilst being hunted through the woods by a crazed killer armed with a bow and arrow. It's a relatively easy read, I could see some of the reveals ahead early on in the book but I still wanted to read on to see the final outcome. There is a dual narrative which can be a bit tricky to follow sometimes and the ending is a bit far fetched. I think this will be popular with its YA target audience and it is a great read for fans of a spooky story around the campfire. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC....more
When Lula Dean and her little committee decide to ban numerous books in their local library, she sets up her own little alternative wholesome library When Lula Dean and her little committee decide to ban numerous books in their local library, she sets up her own little alternative wholesome library outside her house. Then someone replaces her books with titles from the banned list - a prank with far reaching consequences. This book is about hate. And fear. It is also about the power of books to change people's lives for the better which is something I can wholeheartedly agree with. There are a lot of different characters in the story which makes it a bit hard going to begin with, but eventually they come together and it all makes sense. Unfortunately the advanced copy of the book on my kindle was corrupted so that there were words missing as well as Copyright and Publisher appearing in the middle of every page. I'm sure this will be resolved by the publication date but it made reading the book hard work. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC...more
Coal is a foster child who initially seems to have no-one in the world looking out for him. After his foster dad has a mental health crisis, he is movCoal is a foster child who initially seems to have no-one in the world looking out for him. After his foster dad has a mental health crisis, he is moved to a very different setting with a new foster family, then a series of events lead to him experiencing severe stress and trauma which in turn leads to him becoming temporarily invisible. This has never happened before and Coal doesn’t know who to trust or who to confide in. His desire for answers leads him on a potentially dangerous journey of discovery. I really enjoyed this book, it has a wonderful cast of likeable supporting characters, themes of identity, found family and friendships and it’s an exciting adventure/mystery with many unexpected twists and turns as Coal finds out the truth about his origins. Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the ARC....more
I loved The People on Platform 5 by the same author so I was excited to have the opportunity to read How to Age Disgracefully.
Clare Pooley excels at bI loved The People on Platform 5 by the same author so I was excited to have the opportunity to read How to Age Disgracefully.
Clare Pooley excels at bringing together an ensemble cast of diverse characters and telling their story from multiple points of view. Her characters are so authentic that surely they must exist in reality and we should all aspire to be “more Daphne”. This unlikely bunch of characters form even more unlikely friendships, working together to save the local community centre, but the real depth of the story is delivered through carefully handled themes of loneliness, addiction, grief, self-esteem, gang culture and the challenging of stereotypes.
The story has so many funny moments, I loved Yarnsy’s creations and the idea of a 70 year old who has a whiteboard in her bedroom. This is a genuine feel-good book, full of hope, friendship and energy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC...more
Three women connected by an event twenty years ago set off on holiday to a remote part of the Maldives to celebrate one them being newly divorced. ButThree women connected by an event twenty years ago set off on holiday to a remote part of the Maldives to celebrate one them being newly divorced. But all is not well in paradise. Is there a killer also staying at their dream holiday resort? Bad Tourists is an intense and dark thriller full of suspense and plot twists. After a very strong punchy start, the story is told from several POVs and with timeline jumps back into the past. Add in multiple deaths, unreliable narrators and questionable characters and you have a thriller which tests our trio’s friendship and keeps the reader guessing. Warning: the book contains the theme of domestic abuse. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster/Avid Reader Press for the ARC. ...more
If you are into TV reality shows and enjoy a locked room murder mystery, you will love Lie or Die. The contestants characters were easy to get to knowIf you are into TV reality shows and enjoy a locked room murder mystery, you will love Lie or Die. The contestants characters were easy to get to know and the action packed pace of the story will keep you turning the pages right through the twists and turns to the very end. The show's motto "Trust no-one" was spot on! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Merged review:
If you are into TV reality shows and enjoy a locked room murder mystery, you will love Lie or Die. The contestants characters were easy to get to know and the action packed pace of the story will keep you turning the pages right through the twists and turns to the very end. The show's motto "Trust no-one" was spot on! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC....more
This sci-fi novel imagines a world destroyed by war and by tectonic activity which ultimately causes flooding on such a scale that entire cities lie oThis sci-fi novel imagines a world destroyed by war and by tectonic activity which ultimately causes flooding on such a scale that entire cities lie on the ocean bed. November's Dawn, an ark designed to save what remains of humanity, has been crawling along the ocean bed thousands of fathoms deep for many years. Society aboard the ark has evolved into layers in which the privileged elite are living in relative ease on the upper decks whilst workers of various status are living in challenging conditions on the decks below. Our hero Josie is training to become an engineer when she receives a message from her father who was killed in an accident when she was a young child. The message suggests that there is a radical and risky alternative to roaming endlessly in the deep darkness of the ocean. Josie sets out on a quest to find answers. The world building is really good ......I felt claustrophobic just reading about the endless deep darkness of the ocean. There are plenty of surprises in the storyline and Josie is a likeable character who has to decide who to trust in a society rife with corruption and power hungry villains. The ending suggests that a sequel is planned and I am intrigued to see how Josie's journey progresses. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC....more
Following her father’s arrest, Rhi is sent to live at the Happy Valley Wildlife Reserve with an uncle she barely knows and whilst in the forest one daFollowing her father’s arrest, Rhi is sent to live at the Happy Valley Wildlife Reserve with an uncle she barely knows and whilst in the forest one day she discovers four feral girls guarded by wolves. Rhi forms an instant bond with the girls and the story follows the mystery of their identity, their individual struggles with local media attention and their adjustment to a world outside the literal and metaphorical wilderness. As Rhi and the Wild girls find their place in modern society, the author examines and challenges how society treats young women and the limited choices they sometimes have in order to cope with a situation they are in due to no fault of their own. The Wilderness of Girls is a triumphant celebration of sisterhood and finding your pack – those people who can be your support system. I loved this unique debut with its lyrical prose which treads a wavering line between reality and fantasy. Readers should note the trigger warnings before reading. Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the ARC...more
Ezren Hart loves her job as an intern at a terraforming lab on a planet called Belethea where violent and unpredictable storms ravage the barren landsEzren Hart loves her job as an intern at a terraforming lab on a planet called Belethea where violent and unpredictable storms ravage the barren landscape. Whilst most inhabitants live in shelter underground, Ezren loves to be outside battling the elements. When the lab loses funding, her friend persuades her to apply to enter the Race Royale for the prize money. The main characters Ezren and Foster are underdogs, part of an underfunded team who are putting their lives on the line just by trying to compete in this crazy race/fight to the centre of Belethea whilst dodging the storms and attacks from other competitors. Into the Churn is a cracking sci fi dystopian adventure with romance, science, politics and found family thrown in. The pace is intense, this is one of those rare books that is hard to put down, the world building is fantastic and very accessible and there is great character development. Fans of Hunger Games, Ender’s Game or Ready Player One will love this....more
The Typo is a sweet romance between two strangers on different continents who develop a connection over e-mail. When Amy receives an e-mail that is clThe Typo is a sweet romance between two strangers on different continents who develop a connection over e-mail. When Amy receives an e-mail that is clearly for another person, she does a bit of googling, comes up with a likely person who should have had the message and forwards it on. A penpal-type correspondence between two lonely people ensues. The reader gets to know Amy’s character really well as the story follows her journey on both the work and personal front. She was in such a bad place at the start and it was so good to see her eventually regain her confidence. More development of Cameron’s character would have been an improvement as the story seemed a bit one-sided. thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC...more
A British South Asian Gossip Girl is a good description for The Exes. Karim is a famous social media influencer whilst Zara is just an ordinary A leveA British South Asian Gossip Girl is a good description for The Exes. Karim is a famous social media influencer whilst Zara is just an ordinary A level student who has her sights set on university. Their chance meeting leads to each of them finding something they were missing. The book deals with some heavy topics including abortion choices, the damage that social media exposure can do to self-esteem and relationships, and the reality of restrictive family expectations. Throw in a creepy online stalker, a love triangle and friendships under strain and you have all the ingredients of a strong debut novel. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC...more
Wow! It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel. Read The Ministry of Time if you like exceptional writing, smouldering romance and a crafted ploWow! It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel. Read The Ministry of Time if you like exceptional writing, smouldering romance and a crafted plot. A cast of intriguing characters are pulled from various points in the past; their assimilation to modern life (the book is set in the near future) is guided by ministry employees called "bridges" but we don't really know why any of this is happening and the sinister Ministry behind the time travel experiment creates an element of mystery to the story. It is a thriller, there are hints of a dystopian future but there are also many comedy moments, often due to culture shock. I especially liked Margaret's comments on our modern world. I look forward to Kaliane Bradley's next book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC....more
