If you're an aspiring author, find me on TikTok where I share some of the things I've learnt as an author. 

A man called Ove - Fredrik Backman

At first sight, Ove is almost certainly the grumpiest man you will ever meet. He thinks himself surrounded by idiots – neighbours who can't reverse a trailer properly, joggers, shop assistants who talk in code, and the perpetrators of the vicious coup d'etat that ousted him as Chairman of the Residents' Association. He will persist in making his daily inspection rounds of the local streets.

A very slow read, which I found boring and predictable at time. But, beautifully written. Just not a book for me (who likes her books fast-paced)

The Mist by Stephen King

A man staggered into the market . . . 'Something in the fog!' he screamed
Following a freak summer storm, David Drayton, his son Billy, and their neighbour Brent Norton join dozens of others and head to the local grocery store to replenish supplies.
Once there, they become trapped by a strange mist that has enveloped the town. Violent forces concealed in the mist are starting to emerge. And there is another shocking threat from within - one group of survivors, led by a religious zealot, is calling for a sacrifice.
Now David and his son must try to escape. But what's outside may be even more dangerous.

I get it - it's a novella and therefore a short book. But - it just stopped half-way through the story, there was no ending which left me very unsatisfied as a reader. 

Sorry Stephen, but that one wasn't for me. 

The Maid by Nita Prose

It begins like any other day for Molly Gray, silently dusting her way through the luxury rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel.

But when she enters suite 401 and discovers an infamous guest dead in his bed, a very messy mystery begins to unfold. And Molly’s at the heart of it – because if anyone can uncover the secrets beneath the surface, the fingerprints amongst the filth – it’s the maid . . .

This book was a page-turner, and I read it in one sitting. Beautifully written with a story that had me hooked. 

Small pleasures by Clare Chambers

'1957, the suburbs of south east London. Jean Swinney is a journalist on a local paper, trapped in a life of duty and disappointment from which there is no likelihood of escape. When a young woman, Gretchen Tilbury, contacts the paper to claim that her daughter is the result of a virgin birth, it is down to Jean to discover whether she is a miracle or a fraud. As the investigation turns her quiet life inside out, Jean is suddenly given an unexpected chance at friendship, love and - possibly - happiness.'

This was one of those books that was just wonderfully nice. I loved the writing and the tenderness of the narrative. If I had to describe the book in one word - heartwarming. 

Extinction Point by Paul Anthony Jones

First comes the red rain: a strange, scarlet downpour from a cloudless sky that spreads across cities, nations, and the entire globe. In a matter of panicked hours, every living thing on earth succumbs to swift, bloody death. Yet Emily Baxter, a young newspaper reporter, is mysteriously spared—and now she’s all alone.

This was my May holiday read - I stumbled across this book by chance and it's not my usual genre. But I literally inhaled it and finished it in one day. I then went on to get the other four in that series and finished them all in five days. I think that may be a record even for an avid reader like myself. 

Weyward by Emilia Hart.

This is a wonderful book, it had me gripping from page 1. I loved how intertwined the three stories were! I felt the pain of all three women, yet marvelled in their strength and belief. At times, I forgot it was a fictional story and not real. Which is a shame, as I would definitely want to find the little cottage all three women found solace and peace in.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

Imagine having the chance to live different lives until you find the one you really like. The only catch is that you have to almost die first. Only then can you enter the midnight library where anything is possible.....
I loved the story, loved the leading female character and literally inhaled this book.

No Plan B by Andrew Child

This was my first ever Jack Reacher book. I think it may also be my last..... It was ok, I did enjoy how Jack Reacher was portrait, but the story lacked depth and imagination. It was an easy read and has prompted me to watch the TV show, which I did enjoy. My husband, on the other hand, loved this book. Maybe it's a me thing...

Under a Greek Moon by Carol Kirkwood

This book was given to me by a friend, who suggested it would be a nice little holiday read. The blurb at the end wasn't particularly interesting and I have to say that if it wasn't for the fact she gave it to me, I would have not chosen it as my next read. But, as you should never turn your nose up a free gift, I read it. In a day, with a smile on my face. The story was wonderfully predictable - a young poor girl falls in love with a hot guy, who can't be with her (because his mummy won't let him). Both part ways, she with more than what she'd bargained for, him with a heavy heart and a longing for her that never went away. They finally meet years later and have their happy ever after. This book is pure escapism, it's easy to read, easy to digest and leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling in your heart! Despite initial reservations (and probably being slightly influenced by the wonderful Spanish sun and Sangria), five stars from me!

The Mum who'd had enough by Fiona Gibson

I think the title says it all. It started off great - she chucks him out because he'd been treating their house like a hotel, and her like a doormat. It was funny, well written and I liked the idea of him having a list that he was working through to improve things. In the end though, she falls for someone else, and their marriage can't be saved. I appreciate this was fiction, however I just can't imagine that a woman who leaves her husband because he'd taken her for granted, would fall straight into the arms of another man. I had expected her to start living her life without a man to look after..... 

Making it so by Patrick Stewart

Well, I love Patrick Stewart, or so I thought. Unfortunately it turns out that I love the people he portrait over the years.  I loved seeing him on stage, yet the book left me feeling flat and disappointed. I suppose I  did not appreciate how old-fashioned and alpha-male he may be in real life and that the real Patrick is nothing like the many characters he portrait. But I suppose I need to take some of the blame for having even considered he could be. 

The Mister by E L James. 

My backstory - I was on a girlie weekend away that involved a lot of laughter, wine and food. I needed something light to read, hence this book felt like hitting the spot! I finished it in two days and provided regular insights and updates to my friends, who often fell over laughing at how unique the writing was! The book was easy to read, the story predictable and totally devoid of any sense of reality. If you're looking for a book with the classic - poor girl gets rescued by a rich man and gladly accepts to be saved - this is a book for you! 

Fairytale by Stephen King. 

I love Stephen King and have read many of his books. However, I was a little dubious about him leaving his usual genre. This one definitely felt different - it was a modern tale fairytale that had me guessing whether the world he described was actually real or not. There were some genius links to traditional fairytales in this book and the story itself was overall gripping, interesting and different. Stephen King is a master of bringing characters to life, be that a grumpy old man or a dog that had seen better days. I give the book four stars, purely because it was a little drawn-out in places and predictable in others. 

'The world I fell out of' by Melanie Reid!

The true story about how Melanie fell off her horse, broke her back, and therefore had to break with her, until then, normal life!
It was a raw, heartbreaking read that detailed what life is like when your body no longer belongs to you. It's one that will stay with me!

Shuggie Bain - D Stuart.

This one was a hard one to judge. I really wanted to love it, having read all the amazing reviews! And I was obviously curious as to what made it so special to win the Booker Prize.

Unfortunately, I struggled through the first hundred pages and then had to give it a break for a while. It didn’t get any easier when I finally picked it up again. It’s a moving story, at times brutal and heartbreaking – however for someone like me, who reads at the speed of lighting it just didn’t work. I suppose I have always struggled with books that are written with strong accents throughout – especially ones that don’t come natural to me. There were also a few too many characters, which made it hard for me to keep up.

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.

There are few books I have read that have stayed with me....this one will definitely be added to that list. I read it within a day and struggled putting it down.
It's a story of a woman who loses everyone except her small son. To save him and herself from the death sentence imposed on her by a Mexican Cartel, she has to go on the run, trying to reach the US.
The story was gripping and unnerving and it has yet again reminded me that every migrant carries his own story that must be heard!
It has also reminded me of how privileged we are - simply sitting in the sun, reading a book without the threat of being shot and knowing that tomorrow will be another day!
Definitely recommend this book!!

The Party by Robyn Harding

A great, easy read book about what can happen when you decide to allow your sixteen year old to invite a few friends for a seemingly quiet birthday party.....not realising that at that age, the teens have their own views of what a party should be like....
The book reminded me of my own rebellious years and how lucky I was that no one ever got seriously hurt! 

The tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. 

The book tells the story of Lale, a young Jewish man, born and raised in Slovakia. In 1942 he gets taken from his family and is imprisoned in the notorious concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. His ‘job’ is to tattoo prison numbers into his fellow prisoner’s arms, fearing every day may be his last.
Despite the daily trauma of his job, in one of the young women he has to tattoo, Lale finds love and therefore the will to survive in a place where only pain, hunger and despair exist.
This was a compelling read, disturbing and intriguing at the same time. I have read many books about the Holocaust over the years, yet the pain they evoke never diminishes. This book deserves nothing less than five stars and I recommend it to anyone who, like me, never wants to forget those whose lives were robbed in the most horrendous circumstances, simply because of who they were.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.

OMG...What a read! I literally inhaled this one! It was full of suspense, twists and turns and with a totally unexpected ending! Loved, loved, loved it!