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13rebecca13's reviews
511 reviews
Breakdown by Cathy Sweeney
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I love Irish authors and was very intrigued by the premise of this book.
One November day, a middle class mother of two leaves her home in Ireland. Not knowing where she is going just that she is done with that life. She emails into work to say she will not be in that day, texts her husband to say that she is going on a trip but is safe and will return soon then buys a one way ticket on a ferry to Wales.
I found the main character to be very unlikeable by but the prose and story is very provocative and interesting. She tells the story of people she meets along the way, her life with her family and reflecting back on herself as a mother and what society seems a good mother should be.
Moving to the cottage in Wales feels like she has freed herself from her former life but she still thinks about what her leaving has done to her family back home. Life will still continue. It is quite a bleak story and is undoubtedly written very well, but it just unfortunately felt a bit too pessimistic for me.
One November day, a middle class mother of two leaves her home in Ireland. Not knowing where she is going just that she is done with that life. She emails into work to say she will not be in that day, texts her husband to say that she is going on a trip but is safe and will return soon then buys a one way ticket on a ferry to Wales.
I found the main character to be very unlikeable by but the prose and story is very provocative and interesting. She tells the story of people she meets along the way, her life with her family and reflecting back on herself as a mother and what society seems a good mother should be.
Moving to the cottage in Wales feels like she has freed herself from her former life but she still thinks about what her leaving has done to her family back home. Life will still continue. It is quite a bleak story and is undoubtedly written very well, but it just unfortunately felt a bit too pessimistic for me.
Can I Tell You Something? by Holly June Smith
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was written for the audiobook girlies so I obviously had to listen to the audio version.
Hannah is a lawyer in London and her favourite way to unwind is by listening to her favourite spicy audio content creator, Mac N Please. Every year, her family has gone to their ski cabin over Christmas but her older brother Ryan has been unable to visit for the past three years and she misses him deeply.
Ryan, now based in LA, is just as upset about missing the trip for another year so his best friend Cameron decides they should just go so he books last minute flights to surprise Ryan's family.
As soon the men arrive, Hannah is delighted to see her brother but very quickly panics when she realises that Cameron is the man behind her favourite audio clips...and she may have sent him some very embarrassing DMs.
This was a cute little book, definitely made better by the audio. I loved the setting and characters and there was a lot of background on them too, something I don't normally expect from a novella.
I loved the build up of Hannah and Cameron's relationship, especially when Cameron realised Hannah knew who he was and tried to coax it out of her and admit it. It was fun!
Hannah is a lawyer in London and her favourite way to unwind is by listening to her favourite spicy audio content creator, Mac N Please. Every year, her family has gone to their ski cabin over Christmas but her older brother Ryan has been unable to visit for the past three years and she misses him deeply.
Ryan, now based in LA, is just as upset about missing the trip for another year so his best friend Cameron decides they should just go so he books last minute flights to surprise Ryan's family.
As soon the men arrive, Hannah is delighted to see her brother but very quickly panics when she realises that Cameron is the man behind her favourite audio clips...and she may have sent him some very embarrassing DMs.
This was a cute little book, definitely made better by the audio. I loved the setting and characters and there was a lot of background on them too, something I don't normally expect from a novella.
I loved the build up of Hannah and Cameron's relationship, especially when Cameron realised Hannah knew who he was and tried to coax it out of her and admit it. It was fun!
Dashing All The Way by Chelsea Curto
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I love Chelsea Curto's books so much. This was promoted as a novella with more spice than plot but honestly I thought it was so much more than that.
Margo is a twenty-four year old teacher and after her ex-boyfriend (who she caught cheating on her) tells her that she would never be able to run a half marathon, she decides to prove him wrong and do it.
She makes it to the finish line but after feeling a bit wobbly, she ends up in the medical tent. She instantly has an attraction to Finn, the hot paramedic but it turns out that at forty years old, he is sixteen years her senior but is also her ex-boyfriend's dad.
I love an age gap/forbidden romance and I just adored this. Curto writes amazingly with the absolute best characters but there is always a serious aspect in her books too - this time around women and staying safe whilst running. I am not a runner, I have never ran but I learned so much from this novella.
Margo is a twenty-four year old teacher and after her ex-boyfriend (who she caught cheating on her) tells her that she would never be able to run a half marathon, she decides to prove him wrong and do it.
She makes it to the finish line but after feeling a bit wobbly, she ends up in the medical tent. She instantly has an attraction to Finn, the hot paramedic but it turns out that at forty years old, he is sixteen years her senior but is also her ex-boyfriend's dad.
I love an age gap/forbidden romance and I just adored this. Curto writes amazingly with the absolute best characters but there is always a serious aspect in her books too - this time around women and staying safe whilst running. I am not a runner, I have never ran but I learned so much from this novella.
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a fun read and I'm glad I listened to it on audio. Jacob Morgan was brilliant as Josh and really brought out the humour in Navessa Allen's words.
Lights Out was clearly written for the booktok girlies and those who are into the masked man thing. Our main character Aly is nurse, desperate to help as many people as possible in life after an accident involving her mother when she was younger.
Similarly, Josh, "The Faceless Man", whose masked, thirst trap videos that Aly is obsessed with, has his own traumatic past. I don't want to give any spoilers on how their paths come to cross because it is really fun to read and discover. Probably my favourite part of the whole book!
The story was fun, I enjoyed the humour (especially the Emily Gilmore reference) and Josh's character was just brilliant. He has these two very different personas and I loved both of them. There is a little bit of a mafia family thrown in the middle which I typically don't choose to read normally but it worked in this novel.
Lights Out was clearly written for the booktok girlies and those who are into the masked man thing. Our main character Aly is nurse, desperate to help as many people as possible in life after an accident involving her mother when she was younger.
Similarly, Josh, "The Faceless Man", whose masked, thirst trap videos that Aly is obsessed with, has his own traumatic past. I don't want to give any spoilers on how their paths come to cross because it is really fun to read and discover. Probably my favourite part of the whole book!
The story was fun, I enjoyed the humour (especially the Emily Gilmore reference) and Josh's character was just brilliant. He has these two very different personas and I loved both of them. There is a little bit of a mafia family thrown in the middle which I typically don't choose to read normally but it worked in this novel.
Playing the Game by Sasha Lace
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Playing The Game is the first book in the Playing The Field series and what I didn't realise was that it is set in London. I love a sports romance and this crosses with billionaire romance too.
Miri is a female footballer for the Swans. She has recently broken up with her boyfriend Jed and we learn that she had borrowed money from someone a bit dodgy in his family because her mother was ill and needed some adaptations. Now that they aren't together, Jed throws her under the bus and it's up to her to pay the money back.
After Gabe's father dies, he expects that he will become the manager of Calverdale football club. Due to his playboy image and negative press, his mother won't allow it until he proves himself with the Calverdale Ladies team. Whilst observing his new team, he spots Miri. She is a fantastic footballer and Gabe instantly wants her to join the team but he wants her in a not so professional way too.
I did enjoy this book and it was nice change to read a book about women in sports. Miri is a great strong character who is determined. I liked the character of Gabe too and his personality really came across on the page. I understand him and why he behaved as he did with a nice redemption arc too.
Miri is a female footballer for the Swans. She has recently broken up with her boyfriend Jed and we learn that she had borrowed money from someone a bit dodgy in his family because her mother was ill and needed some adaptations. Now that they aren't together, Jed throws her under the bus and it's up to her to pay the money back.
After Gabe's father dies, he expects that he will become the manager of Calverdale football club. Due to his playboy image and negative press, his mother won't allow it until he proves himself with the Calverdale Ladies team. Whilst observing his new team, he spots Miri. She is a fantastic footballer and Gabe instantly wants her to join the team but he wants her in a not so professional way too.
I did enjoy this book and it was nice change to read a book about women in sports. Miri is a great strong character who is determined. I liked the character of Gabe too and his personality really came across on the page. I understand him and why he behaved as he did with a nice redemption arc too.
Snowed In by Catherine Walsh
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
As soon as I finished Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh, I instantly started Snowed In, the second in the Fitzpatrick Christmas series. This is Christian's story, Andrew's brother who we met briefly in the previous book.
Megan jilts her would-be husband Isaac on their wedding day, bumping into former schoolmate Christian outside the venue who promises to keep her abscondence secret.
Five years later, the two meet again in a pub in Dublin where they are both now living, and reconnect. Megan is going back home for the holidays for the first time since she walked out on her wedding and is nervous about being back in her hometown and potentially bumping into her ex-fiance. It doesn't help that she thinks everyone hates her for what she did to Isaac with no explanation. Christian is also not looking forward to Christmas with his family as the only single sibling and dreads the onslaught of relationship questions.
Christian proposes a fake relationship deal and Megan is absolutely not on board but eventually she is won round. What can go wrong?
I love how Catherine Walsh writes. Not only do we have a cute, Irish Christmas setting with humour and romance but serious topics such as controlling relationships and family dynamics are tackled too.
I read this in basically one sitting because I just didn't want to put it down. I now feel like I have read Catherine Walsh's entre back catalogue. Loved it!
Megan jilts her would-be husband Isaac on their wedding day, bumping into former schoolmate Christian outside the venue who promises to keep her abscondence secret.
Five years later, the two meet again in a pub in Dublin where they are both now living, and reconnect. Megan is going back home for the holidays for the first time since she walked out on her wedding and is nervous about being back in her hometown and potentially bumping into her ex-fiance. It doesn't help that she thinks everyone hates her for what she did to Isaac with no explanation. Christian is also not looking forward to Christmas with his family as the only single sibling and dreads the onslaught of relationship questions.
Christian proposes a fake relationship deal and Megan is absolutely not on board but eventually she is won round. What can go wrong?
I love how Catherine Walsh writes. Not only do we have a cute, Irish Christmas setting with humour and romance but serious topics such as controlling relationships and family dynamics are tackled too.
I read this in basically one sitting because I just didn't want to put it down. I now feel like I have read Catherine Walsh's entre back catalogue. Loved it!
Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I have been wanting to read as many festive books as I can this Christmas and this one had been on my radar for a while. Although I'm not usually a fan of friends to lovers, I absolutely loved this.
Molly is a lawyer from Ireland working and living in Chicago. Every year she flies back home to her family for Christmas. The first year of doing this, her best friend (who she is definitely going to stop being friends with) has informed her of her decision to split up with her boyfriend, Andrew. Who is sitting next to Molly on the flight? Yep, Andrew, who is also a Irish and flying back home for Christmas.
After that first flight, Molly and Andrew have made it a tradition to fly back home together and it is now their tenth year of doing so. A storm has hit Chicago and Molly knows how much Christmas means to Andrew and his family so she will do anything to get him back to Ireland. So off they go to Paris, London then on the ferry to Ireland.
I loved how this was written. We have the story of their long winded trip back home in the present but also glimpses from the past ten years of flying together and you can really see their friendship building. After reading about all their journeys together over the years, Andrew delivers a wonderful monologue that really gripped my heart.
There is some really brilliant Irish humour in here too with fantastic characters. I am excited to read more by Catherine Walsh.
Molly is a lawyer from Ireland working and living in Chicago. Every year she flies back home to her family for Christmas. The first year of doing this, her best friend (who she is definitely going to stop being friends with) has informed her of her decision to split up with her boyfriend, Andrew. Who is sitting next to Molly on the flight? Yep, Andrew, who is also a Irish and flying back home for Christmas.
After that first flight, Molly and Andrew have made it a tradition to fly back home together and it is now their tenth year of doing so. A storm has hit Chicago and Molly knows how much Christmas means to Andrew and his family so she will do anything to get him back to Ireland. So off they go to Paris, London then on the ferry to Ireland.
I loved how this was written. We have the story of their long winded trip back home in the present but also glimpses from the past ten years of flying together and you can really see their friendship building. After reading about all their journeys together over the years, Andrew delivers a wonderful monologue that really gripped my heart.
There is some really brilliant Irish humour in here too with fantastic characters. I am excited to read more by Catherine Walsh.
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I went into this thinking it was a fluffy laugh-out-loud rom-com but it ended up being one of the most beautiful books I've ever read.
Clementine works at a book publishers and has recently lost the closest person to her - her aunt Analea. The two of them would travel together every year and now she is suddenly navigating life without her. She then closes herself off to protect herself.
Clementine now lives in her aunt's apartment but one day, there is a strange man in her kitchen. Except aspiring chef Iwan Ashton lives seven years in the past. She remembers her aunt telling her stories of this magical apartment and to never fall in love inside it. Each time Clementine leaves the apartment, she is unsure whether or not Iwan will be there when she returns. Will she be transported back to seven years ago?
Until she meets Iwan again in this timeline where he is now a chef opening his own restaurant and her company is trying to sign him. Did he never try to look for her?
Grief is written extremely well and the story really pulls at your heartstrings. Clementine and Iwan are fantastic characters and I truly cannot find anything I disliked about this book. I loved the magic realism aspect and the fact that not only is this a romance but very much about finding yourself after a loss.
Trigger warning for grief and suicide.
Clementine works at a book publishers and has recently lost the closest person to her - her aunt Analea. The two of them would travel together every year and now she is suddenly navigating life without her. She then closes herself off to protect herself.
Clementine now lives in her aunt's apartment but one day, there is a strange man in her kitchen. Except aspiring chef Iwan Ashton lives seven years in the past. She remembers her aunt telling her stories of this magical apartment and to never fall in love inside it. Each time Clementine leaves the apartment, she is unsure whether or not Iwan will be there when she returns. Will she be transported back to seven years ago?
Until she meets Iwan again in this timeline where he is now a chef opening his own restaurant and her company is trying to sign him. Did he never try to look for her?
Grief is written extremely well and the story really pulls at your heartstrings. Clementine and Iwan are fantastic characters and I truly cannot find anything I disliked about this book. I loved the magic realism aspect and the fact that not only is this a romance but very much about finding yourself after a loss.
Trigger warning for grief and suicide.
The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Agustina Bazterrica's writing is wonderful, there is no doubt about that. The Unworthy is a dystopian novel written as though the pages have been found and it is the experience of someone at the House of the Sacred Sisterhood. It's been written in whatever they can use; their blood, monk's ink, etc.
It is very Handmaid's Tale in a post-apocalypic world but there is very little background or world building. There is a really eerie feeling that you get whilst reading and I understand the religious aspects and positions of power, however I felt a huge amount of vagueness which meant I struggled to really connect. It feels really slow for the majority of the book then the last couple of chapters amp up a bit.
There are some really shocking and sad scenes and as I said, I cannot fault Bazterrica's writing style. I just wanted a little bit more I think!
It is very Handmaid's Tale in a post-apocalypic world but there is very little background or world building. There is a really eerie feeling that you get whilst reading and I understand the religious aspects and positions of power, however I felt a huge amount of vagueness which meant I struggled to really connect. It feels really slow for the majority of the book then the last couple of chapters amp up a bit.
There are some really shocking and sad scenes and as I said, I cannot fault Bazterrica's writing style. I just wanted a little bit more I think!
Fundamentals in Flirting by Lucy Chalice
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really loved The Hot Henry Effect by Lucy Chalice so I was very excited about a new novel and the fact that it followed Teddy, Henry's twin brother.
We first meet Teddy and Hannah having a moment at Teddy's 18th birthday party but Hannah sees Teddy as a little out of her league and one of those boys who is always fighting girls off, whereas she is quite nerdy.
Fast-forward into adulthood and the two bump into each other again. Hannah is now a vet and has recently moved back to her hometown to work at a veterinary practice. Teddy has also moved back and purchased The Old Rectory which is close by the practice.
After a few complaints about Hannah's prickly attitude, her boss asks her to maybe try being a bit brighter with them. Teddy however is super charming and nice and everyone seems to like him, so Hannah desperately asks for his help to teach her.
I loved loved loved this. The characterisation is fantastic and I felt like I knew Hannah and Teddy inside out. This is a slow burn romance and I felt like I could really resonate with Hannah in her self-doubt about her looks and not believing that Teddy could possibly like her.
Teddy's feelings about his place in his family was beautifully done and added so much depth to the characters. I fell in love with the supporting characters too and it just felt like a fabulously cosy read.
We first meet Teddy and Hannah having a moment at Teddy's 18th birthday party but Hannah sees Teddy as a little out of her league and one of those boys who is always fighting girls off, whereas she is quite nerdy.
Fast-forward into adulthood and the two bump into each other again. Hannah is now a vet and has recently moved back to her hometown to work at a veterinary practice. Teddy has also moved back and purchased The Old Rectory which is close by the practice.
After a few complaints about Hannah's prickly attitude, her boss asks her to maybe try being a bit brighter with them. Teddy however is super charming and nice and everyone seems to like him, so Hannah desperately asks for his help to teach her.
I loved loved loved this. The characterisation is fantastic and I felt like I knew Hannah and Teddy inside out. This is a slow burn romance and I felt like I could really resonate with Hannah in her self-doubt about her looks and not believing that Teddy could possibly like her.
Teddy's feelings about his place in his family was beautifully done and added so much depth to the characters. I fell in love with the supporting characters too and it just felt like a fabulously cosy read.