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ash_readss's reviews
193 reviews
The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A Country Kind of Love by Nicole Spencer-Skillen
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
3.5
The Half of It by Madison Beer
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
4.0
The Lost Child by Kathleen McGurl
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
š« Book Review š«
The Lost Child by @kathleenmcgurl
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Publication date: 30 Jan 2024
Itās April 1912 and Madeline is onboard the Carpathia helping to comfort Titanic survivors who are onboard their shop. She agreed to help her journalist husband interview survivors and in doing so she meets Lucy, a woman desperately searching for her baby who she saw thrust into the arms of another woman on a lifeboat.
This story runs side by side with Jackie, an archivist in present day who finds Madeleineās a notebook and is drawn to the story of Lucy.
In both timelines there are themes of motherhood and baby loss so think itās something to be aware of before you start reading.
Iām such a Titanic girl so I loved that this book featured real historical figures and it was nice to learn more about the Carpathia. It was clear the author had done a lot of research.
The only reason this isnāt 5 stars is that Iād hoped the two stories interlinked just a little bit more and also it spoke about Covid quite a bit (in the present day timeline obviously) and I get that it was important to the storyline but I donāt think so much detail about lockdown rules were needed.
If youāre a history girly and like duel timelines the Iād definitely recommend.
Thank you to @netgalley, @kathleenmcgurl and @hqstories for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#netgalley #thelostchild book #bookstagram #booklover #bookreview #bookstagrammer #bookish #bookishpost #bookishlove #whatimreading #historicalfiction
The Lost Child by @kathleenmcgurl
āļøāļøāļøāļø
Publication date: 30 Jan 2024
Itās April 1912 and Madeline is onboard the Carpathia helping to comfort Titanic survivors who are onboard their shop. She agreed to help her journalist husband interview survivors and in doing so she meets Lucy, a woman desperately searching for her baby who she saw thrust into the arms of another woman on a lifeboat.
This story runs side by side with Jackie, an archivist in present day who finds Madeleineās a notebook and is drawn to the story of Lucy.
In both timelines there are themes of motherhood and baby loss so think itās something to be aware of before you start reading.
Iām such a Titanic girl so I loved that this book featured real historical figures and it was nice to learn more about the Carpathia. It was clear the author had done a lot of research.
The only reason this isnāt 5 stars is that Iād hoped the two stories interlinked just a little bit more and also it spoke about Covid quite a bit (in the present day timeline obviously) and I get that it was important to the storyline but I donāt think so much detail about lockdown rules were needed.
If youāre a history girly and like duel timelines the Iād definitely recommend.
Thank you to @netgalley, @kathleenmcgurl and @hqstories for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#netgalley #thelostchild book #bookstagram #booklover #bookreview #bookstagrammer #bookish #bookishpost #bookishlove #whatimreading #historicalfiction
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wtf did i just read?! so many twists and it was so unpredictable. the title suggests an unreliable narrator but i genuinely donāt know whose story i believe
listen to the audiobook if you can as it has multiple voice actors and has snippets of a fake true crime documentary which made the story feel so real to me
listen to the audiobook if you can as it has multiple voice actors and has snippets of a fake true crime documentary which made the story feel so real to me
The New Year's Party by Daniel Hurst
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Shadow Sister by Lucinda Riley
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The Household by Stacey Halls
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Set in 1847, Charles Dickens has set up Urania Cottage, a home for āfallenā women to help them prepare for a better life. They go to school and learn to sew before eventually emigrating to Australia for a better life.
The story follows wealthy Angela Coutts who has funded the house as she becomes entwined with the fallen women and involved in their stories.
I went into this book pretty blind but definitely didnāt expect it to be a mystery/thriller. There was suspense throughout with a stalker, missing women and a plot twist.
Iām really into historical fiction at the moment so this book was made even better knowing it was based on a real house and that Charles Dickens and Angela Coutts are real people. I loved getting to know about the fallen women and the bond they all form from being women in a time where women very rarely get second chances to amend their mistakes.
The story follows wealthy Angela Coutts who has funded the house as she becomes entwined with the fallen women and involved in their stories.
I went into this book pretty blind but definitely didnāt expect it to be a mystery/thriller. There was suspense throughout with a stalker, missing women and a plot twist.
Iām really into historical fiction at the moment so this book was made even better knowing it was based on a real house and that Charles Dickens and Angela Coutts are real people. I loved getting to know about the fallen women and the bond they all form from being women in a time where women very rarely get second chances to amend their mistakes.
The Christmas Stocking and Other Stories by Katie Fforde
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5