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chaptersofmay's Reviews (319)
Thank you to Transworld Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book is told from the perspective of a woman who was taken into slavery aged 25 in the 1800s. 200 years later, her spirit floats around the world, searching out for her lost children.
Michael, a teenage boy living in Brixton in 1981, has to work hard to support himself and his sister. He gets involved in the riots, mixes with questionable people and fights against racial tensions in London at that time.
Ngozi, a young girl living in Nigeria in 1981, is pushed to get a better education and begins to work as a maid for a healthy family. She has to leave her mother, sisters and friends to move to a new and bigger place with better opportunities.
I loved the contrast between the two characters. They were both black, from single-parent homes, and lives in poor conditions; but had different challenges. They were both constantly fighting for survival. You experience each exertion with them, and the painful burden that adds to their young minds.
In the beginning, the book didn’t grip me. I felt like giving up until around 20% of the way through, and then felt detached again at the end. I knew what was going to happen well before it happened.
The story takes place in Nigeria and England but the central theme is evident: oppression, racism and the struggle of growing up in such an unforgiving world. The book covers a large time period, and highlights the positive changes that have been made. While our society as a whole is moving forward, it’s still clear that not everyone has the same opportunities.
The author’s voice is passionate and authentic from start to finish. I didn’t realise it was a debut novel because the narrative is so thought-provoking. It’s a beautiful story that covers injustice among generations. While the ending was predictable, I enjoyed the book nonetheless.
Read more reviews and blog posts at https://chaptersofmay.com and follow along at instagram.com/chaptersofmay ✨
The book is told from the perspective of a woman who was taken into slavery aged 25 in the 1800s. 200 years later, her spirit floats around the world, searching out for her lost children.
Michael, a teenage boy living in Brixton in 1981, has to work hard to support himself and his sister. He gets involved in the riots, mixes with questionable people and fights against racial tensions in London at that time.
Ngozi, a young girl living in Nigeria in 1981, is pushed to get a better education and begins to work as a maid for a healthy family. She has to leave her mother, sisters and friends to move to a new and bigger place with better opportunities.
I loved the contrast between the two characters. They were both black, from single-parent homes, and lives in poor conditions; but had different challenges. They were both constantly fighting for survival. You experience each exertion with them, and the painful burden that adds to their young minds.
In the beginning, the book didn’t grip me. I felt like giving up until around 20% of the way through, and then felt detached again at the end. I knew what was going to happen well before it happened.
The story takes place in Nigeria and England but the central theme is evident: oppression, racism and the struggle of growing up in such an unforgiving world. The book covers a large time period, and highlights the positive changes that have been made. While our society as a whole is moving forward, it’s still clear that not everyone has the same opportunities.
The author’s voice is passionate and authentic from start to finish. I didn’t realise it was a debut novel because the narrative is so thought-provoking. It’s a beautiful story that covers injustice among generations. While the ending was predictable, I enjoyed the book nonetheless.
Read more reviews and blog posts at https://chaptersofmay.com and follow along at instagram.com/chaptersofmay ✨
I’m familiar with Dolly Alderton and was excited to get stuck into this book, but definitely wasn’t as hooked as I expected to be. I was actually temped to DNF from around 50 pages in.
In the beginning, I was bored. Dolly seemed to complain about living a comfortable middle-class life in suburban London and I found her voice difficult to identify with. One minute she was relatable, using two pages to talk about the nostalgic beauty of MSN, and then the next she was just listing life events with no depth. While I was excited to learn about her life, I felt like skimming because the stories weren’t reaching me.
After pages and pages of tales about binge-drinking, drug-taking and social smoking, I found it really difficult to continue. It was just so much. It reminded me of that one friend who always tells you how drunk they got, even though you didn’t ask. They make every night out seem like the wildest night out, and in reality it’s just not fun to listen to. There were some aspects I could relate to, such as her relationship with food and finding her confidence, but I wasn’t really entertained.
“I thought I had a fear of falling, but really I just didn’t know who I was.”
As Dolly’s life started to pull together and make sense, I became more interested. I enjoyed reading about the start of her career, how her friendships changed in her early 20’s and how she began to become an adult in London. As Dolly matured, more layers started to show.
One of the best parts of the book was Dolly’s friendship with Farly. Everyone needs a best friend like her, and I’m jealous that I don’t have my very own Farly. She’s kind, honest, patient and funny. Even during her arguments with Dolly, I loved her. She came across as a very sweet and humble person, and was refreshing to read about. Even though I couldn’t relate to Farly’s experiences, she entertained me more than Dolly.
“Life grew fuller in the daylight hours and there was less need to escape at night.”
For the first 200 pages of the book, I felt like giving up. I wasn’t excited to read it. But I wanted to stick with it because of the hype and my appreciation for Alderton as a writer. Later on in the book, I was really absorbed by her openness when it comes to finding your place in the world, feeling down all the time, and just trying to get some sense of self. That mindless limbo that so many fall into was perfectly described during Dolly’s therapy sessions, I loved that she admitted her shortcomings. So many people feel like they’re falling apart, and that it’s not a common rollercoaster to ride. I loved that Dolly sought help, but also realised that she doesn’t have it together, and that’s okay.
“I felt like I was growing week by week; I felt my insides photosynthesise with every day I put new habits into practise.”
We live in a world where everyone feels the need to be busy and hyper-productive to be successful. And if we don’t keep up the act, it makes us feel like life is moving on without us. Friends, family, relationships, work, fun and everything morph into one big burden and weigh us down. Dolly was still trying to figure out who she was throughout her 20s, which I found reassuring. The big change didn’t happen overnight like it does in the films, and I think her realness was at its best during those few chapters.
The thing that disappointed me the most is that I shouldn’t have to relate to a character to be able to enjoy the book. But I think the main reason I didn’t love reading this memoir, is because it felt so disconnected from my reality. Even in a window into the life of another person would usually be interesting to read, but I got bored with this window real quick. I was also expecting the book to be hilarious, but it wasn’t funny at all. Dolly’s career was briefly mention throughout the book but even that lacked depth. She seemed to just be handed opportunities, and the stepping stones to her success in writing were quite blurry.
This book gets the stars because of the lessons it taught me in a few chapters. But unfortunately I had to wait a few hundred pages to get there. I enjoy Dolly as a columnist, but not so much as an author. It was light, easy to read, and easy to follow, but overall fell flat.
Check out more of my book reviews and blog posts at https://chaptersofmay.com or follow along at instagram.com/chaptersofmay
In the beginning, I was bored. Dolly seemed to complain about living a comfortable middle-class life in suburban London and I found her voice difficult to identify with. One minute she was relatable, using two pages to talk about the nostalgic beauty of MSN, and then the next she was just listing life events with no depth. While I was excited to learn about her life, I felt like skimming because the stories weren’t reaching me.
After pages and pages of tales about binge-drinking, drug-taking and social smoking, I found it really difficult to continue. It was just so much. It reminded me of that one friend who always tells you how drunk they got, even though you didn’t ask. They make every night out seem like the wildest night out, and in reality it’s just not fun to listen to. There were some aspects I could relate to, such as her relationship with food and finding her confidence, but I wasn’t really entertained.
“I thought I had a fear of falling, but really I just didn’t know who I was.”
As Dolly’s life started to pull together and make sense, I became more interested. I enjoyed reading about the start of her career, how her friendships changed in her early 20’s and how she began to become an adult in London. As Dolly matured, more layers started to show.
One of the best parts of the book was Dolly’s friendship with Farly. Everyone needs a best friend like her, and I’m jealous that I don’t have my very own Farly. She’s kind, honest, patient and funny. Even during her arguments with Dolly, I loved her. She came across as a very sweet and humble person, and was refreshing to read about. Even though I couldn’t relate to Farly’s experiences, she entertained me more than Dolly.
“Life grew fuller in the daylight hours and there was less need to escape at night.”
For the first 200 pages of the book, I felt like giving up. I wasn’t excited to read it. But I wanted to stick with it because of the hype and my appreciation for Alderton as a writer. Later on in the book, I was really absorbed by her openness when it comes to finding your place in the world, feeling down all the time, and just trying to get some sense of self. That mindless limbo that so many fall into was perfectly described during Dolly’s therapy sessions, I loved that she admitted her shortcomings. So many people feel like they’re falling apart, and that it’s not a common rollercoaster to ride. I loved that Dolly sought help, but also realised that she doesn’t have it together, and that’s okay.
“I felt like I was growing week by week; I felt my insides photosynthesise with every day I put new habits into practise.”
We live in a world where everyone feels the need to be busy and hyper-productive to be successful. And if we don’t keep up the act, it makes us feel like life is moving on without us. Friends, family, relationships, work, fun and everything morph into one big burden and weigh us down. Dolly was still trying to figure out who she was throughout her 20s, which I found reassuring. The big change didn’t happen overnight like it does in the films, and I think her realness was at its best during those few chapters.
The thing that disappointed me the most is that I shouldn’t have to relate to a character to be able to enjoy the book. But I think the main reason I didn’t love reading this memoir, is because it felt so disconnected from my reality. Even in a window into the life of another person would usually be interesting to read, but I got bored with this window real quick. I was also expecting the book to be hilarious, but it wasn’t funny at all. Dolly’s career was briefly mention throughout the book but even that lacked depth. She seemed to just be handed opportunities, and the stepping stones to her success in writing were quite blurry.
This book gets the stars because of the lessons it taught me in a few chapters. But unfortunately I had to wait a few hundred pages to get there. I enjoy Dolly as a columnist, but not so much as an author. It was light, easy to read, and easy to follow, but overall fell flat.
Check out more of my book reviews and blog posts at https://chaptersofmay.com or follow along at instagram.com/chaptersofmay
I know this is labelled as a heartbreaking romantic comedy but WOW. There needs to be more emphasis on the heartbreak, I was stress jogging on the spot reading some chapters of this book. However, this started out as a five-star, and then dropped to three stars as I reached the end.
We have two main characters, Kristen and Josh. Kristen is the independent, strong-willed, hilariously stubborn small business owner with a fiercely loyal best friend, Sloan. Josh is the tall, board, big-hearted, firefighting paramedic from a big family of women, who is best friends with Brandon, the fiancé Sloan.
Josh and Kristen were thrown together after a series of coincidences, and a new arrangement between them meant they would start spending more time with one another. From their first meeting, the chemistry between them was obvious. They may not have fallen head over heels, but the back-and-forth between them was natural and entertaining. As they got to know each other, and worked together, a clear friendship is formed. The author successfully established a really strong connection between Josh and Kristen, and it was so compelling, I was rooting for them before any they were rooting for each other.
The book is really well written, and it’s flows nicely. Even though I felt like I was going in circles at some points, the main plot was still easy to follow, and the story was never buried in overused and ritzy vocabulary. I breezed through this book in 24 hours, and it kept me on the edge of my seat for a good few chapters.
The characters were well introduced, and had a good background. Although Kristen felt a little bit like a “cool girl” stereotype, the rest of the characters were realistic. They were well-rounded, and made sense. But most of all, they were easy to connect to from the beginning of the book. By the end, I was invested in their lives. Josh in particular was a really lovely character, not just because he was perfect in every way, but because he had a human mindset and reacted to things the way any average person would. He wasn’t a ridiculous fairytale knight, but it was obvious he was a good man.
I really liked the interactions between Josh, Kristen, Brandon and Sloan. I think they were a solid group, and their friendship made the book. Their relationships made this a great contemporary romance, and earned the stars.
There were a few things that frustrated me with the book, one of them being the lack of communication between Kristen and Josh, which led to a lot of their issues. I could understand why Kristen was hesitant to open up, but after a while it grew tiresome. She was hurting herself and the people around her buy putting up walls, letting them down, and then putting them back up again. She claimed to have a lot of logic but never used it. A lot of the conflict would be solved by honesty and communication, instead of ghosting. Because of the lack of understanding, Kristen and Josh’s conversations started to get repetitive and it became irritating. Some dialogue felt more like a filler, because it was so similar to previous chapters.
I was also really unhappy with the way infertility was treated throughout the book. Millions of women struggle to become or stay pregnant, and I think such a heavy subject should have been handled with more care. It definitely affected Kristen as a character, but felt like a plot tool that was thrown around to add depth.
Finally, I was disappointed with how the book ended. I struggle to understand why the painful and heartbreaking trauma was thrown in, and the book would have definitely earned more stars without that kind of event. For me, it ruined the ending, and just made me sad. The most memorable part for me, is the depressing parts which is frustrating for a romantic comedy! The author built up this great love story, but failed to reach the triumph of a firework-worthy ending. I wasn’t satisfied and sadly I’m not excited to read a sequel.
Still, it was definitely an easy read, and quick to get through. While The Friend Zone has sweet, swoon-worthy moments, and plenty of likeable characters, it also has heartbreak and a flat ending.
For more book reviews and blog posts, check out https://chaptersofmay.com or follow along and instagram.com/chaptersofmay
We have two main characters, Kristen and Josh. Kristen is the independent, strong-willed, hilariously stubborn small business owner with a fiercely loyal best friend, Sloan. Josh is the tall, board, big-hearted, firefighting paramedic from a big family of women, who is best friends with Brandon, the fiancé Sloan.
Josh and Kristen were thrown together after a series of coincidences, and a new arrangement between them meant they would start spending more time with one another. From their first meeting, the chemistry between them was obvious. They may not have fallen head over heels, but the back-and-forth between them was natural and entertaining. As they got to know each other, and worked together, a clear friendship is formed. The author successfully established a really strong connection between Josh and Kristen, and it was so compelling, I was rooting for them before any they were rooting for each other.
The book is really well written, and it’s flows nicely. Even though I felt like I was going in circles at some points, the main plot was still easy to follow, and the story was never buried in overused and ritzy vocabulary. I breezed through this book in 24 hours, and it kept me on the edge of my seat for a good few chapters.
The characters were well introduced, and had a good background. Although Kristen felt a little bit like a “cool girl” stereotype, the rest of the characters were realistic. They were well-rounded, and made sense. But most of all, they were easy to connect to from the beginning of the book. By the end, I was invested in their lives. Josh in particular was a really lovely character, not just because he was perfect in every way, but because he had a human mindset and reacted to things the way any average person would. He wasn’t a ridiculous fairytale knight, but it was obvious he was a good man.
I really liked the interactions between Josh, Kristen, Brandon and Sloan. I think they were a solid group, and their friendship made the book. Their relationships made this a great contemporary romance, and earned the stars.
There were a few things that frustrated me with the book, one of them being the lack of communication between Kristen and Josh, which led to a lot of their issues. I could understand why Kristen was hesitant to open up, but after a while it grew tiresome. She was hurting herself and the people around her buy putting up walls, letting them down, and then putting them back up again. She claimed to have a lot of logic but never used it. A lot of the conflict would be solved by honesty and communication, instead of ghosting. Because of the lack of understanding, Kristen and Josh’s conversations started to get repetitive and it became irritating. Some dialogue felt more like a filler, because it was so similar to previous chapters.
I was also really unhappy with the way infertility was treated throughout the book. Millions of women struggle to become or stay pregnant, and I think such a heavy subject should have been handled with more care. It definitely affected Kristen as a character, but felt like a plot tool that was thrown around to add depth.
Finally, I was disappointed with how the book ended. I struggle to understand why the painful and heartbreaking trauma was thrown in, and the book would have definitely earned more stars without that kind of event. For me, it ruined the ending, and just made me sad. The most memorable part for me, is the depressing parts which is frustrating for a romantic comedy! The author built up this great love story, but failed to reach the triumph of a firework-worthy ending. I wasn’t satisfied and sadly I’m not excited to read a sequel.
Still, it was definitely an easy read, and quick to get through. While The Friend Zone has sweet, swoon-worthy moments, and plenty of likeable characters, it also has heartbreak and a flat ending.
For more book reviews and blog posts, check out https://chaptersofmay.com or follow along and instagram.com/chaptersofmay
I knew I’d enjoy this story. I already adored Mack, and I’m a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers story. Undercover Bromance is a fantastic addition and sequel to the Bromance Book Club Series. Bring on book three!
Braden Mack is a nightclub owner and business man. He’s open-minded, family-orientated, charming and intelligent. He’s hyper aware of toxic masculinity, boldly pointing it out whenever he hears it. He reminded me a lot of Joey Tribbiani, I could literally picture the “how YOU doin’?” face from the moment Mack began speaking.
Liv Papandreas is a pastry chef, and the younger sister of Thea from The Bromance Book Club. She’s hard-headed, quick-witted, hilariously reckless and fiercely independent. If Liv is upset, she’ll make sure to let everyone know. She’s incredibly stubborn which can be frustrating at times, but was still a readable character.
However, both characters have 100-metre walls around their inner emotions. They’re both honest people, but as soon as someone begins to scratch at the surface they close off. Liv’s barriers are significantly higher and harder to breakdown than Mack’s and throughout the story she is constantly at war with herself. Childhood trauma still has its grip on her. She’s battling the benefits of trust with consequences of betrayal in an endless back-and-forth.
Mack wants a happy ending. And that doesn’t surprise me as a fellow fan of romance. But he struggles to discern the line of reality when it comes to romance novels and the authenticity of real life. He puts on a mask to run from past pain and keep up the illusion of perfection.
Yet again, Lyssa Kay Adams highlights how toxic masculinity in society forces men to be ashamed of things that are stereotypically appreciated by women, like romance novels and… emotion. But the great thing about this book is that she calls out both men and women for their dated and fragile way of thinking.
The romance between Liv and Mack was easily the best part of the book. It may be because I’m a big fan of enemies-to-lovers stories (eg: The Hating Game, The Unhoneymooners, The Simple Wild); but I loved the way their personalities fit together. The banter and repartee between them is seamlessly written and beyond entertaining. There were many moments that made me laugh out loud, between Mack’s natural charm and Liv’s ruthless teasing, the conversation was enjoyably engaging. And in my opinion, there’s no better dynamic for a slow-burn than an light-hearted but passionate one.
I really liked Rosie and Hop as secondary characters. They were refreshingly accurate, especially Hop who was a Vietnam veteran and ex-cop with a mind stuck in the 60’s. But it was his willingness to listen (and read) that made him such a great character. The role Rosie played in Liv’s life was really sweet to read, I knew from the moment she was introduced in the book that’s she’d become the pragmatic voice of reason every main character needs. There was also the very brave Alexis, and computer whiz Noah, who will become to focus for book 3.
In The Bromance Book Club, there was a down-to-earth element that grounded the entire story. Throwing the adorable band of romance brothers on the top made the story really wonderful. But this element was missing in Undercover Bromance. The book club didn’t play as much of a role, but the whole harassment scandal felt over-the-top. The crime and the expressions from the victims were logical, but the reaction from the rest of the characters and their method of finding justice seemed too fictional to be true. And for someone with trust issues, Liv seemed to have no problem trusting random bouncer goons. Finally, I felt like there was way more unnecessary cussing in this book that the previous. It did put me off a little.
For me, the winner of this book was Braden Mack. I liked him from the first book and loved him by the end of the second. He had his flaws and secrets like every human being, but made up for it by being an adorable, open-hearted, lovable, book-boyfriend. I’d happily read another book full of his mis-adventures as a hopeless romantic in Nashville.
For more book reviews and blog posts, check out chaptersofmay.com or follow along at @chaptersofmay!
Braden Mack is a nightclub owner and business man. He’s open-minded, family-orientated, charming and intelligent. He’s hyper aware of toxic masculinity, boldly pointing it out whenever he hears it. He reminded me a lot of Joey Tribbiani, I could literally picture the “how YOU doin’?” face from the moment Mack began speaking.
Liv Papandreas is a pastry chef, and the younger sister of Thea from The Bromance Book Club. She’s hard-headed, quick-witted, hilariously reckless and fiercely independent. If Liv is upset, she’ll make sure to let everyone know. She’s incredibly stubborn which can be frustrating at times, but was still a readable character.
However, both characters have 100-metre walls around their inner emotions. They’re both honest people, but as soon as someone begins to scratch at the surface they close off. Liv’s barriers are significantly higher and harder to breakdown than Mack’s and throughout the story she is constantly at war with herself. Childhood trauma still has its grip on her. She’s battling the benefits of trust with consequences of betrayal in an endless back-and-forth.
Mack wants a happy ending. And that doesn’t surprise me as a fellow fan of romance. But he struggles to discern the line of reality when it comes to romance novels and the authenticity of real life. He puts on a mask to run from past pain and keep up the illusion of perfection.
Yet again, Lyssa Kay Adams highlights how toxic masculinity in society forces men to be ashamed of things that are stereotypically appreciated by women, like romance novels and… emotion. But the great thing about this book is that she calls out both men and women for their dated and fragile way of thinking.
The romance between Liv and Mack was easily the best part of the book. It may be because I’m a big fan of enemies-to-lovers stories (eg: The Hating Game, The Unhoneymooners, The Simple Wild); but I loved the way their personalities fit together. The banter and repartee between them is seamlessly written and beyond entertaining. There were many moments that made me laugh out loud, between Mack’s natural charm and Liv’s ruthless teasing, the conversation was enjoyably engaging. And in my opinion, there’s no better dynamic for a slow-burn than an light-hearted but passionate one.
I really liked Rosie and Hop as secondary characters. They were refreshingly accurate, especially Hop who was a Vietnam veteran and ex-cop with a mind stuck in the 60’s. But it was his willingness to listen (and read) that made him such a great character. The role Rosie played in Liv’s life was really sweet to read, I knew from the moment she was introduced in the book that’s she’d become the pragmatic voice of reason every main character needs. There was also the very brave Alexis, and computer whiz Noah, who will become to focus for book 3.
In The Bromance Book Club, there was a down-to-earth element that grounded the entire story. Throwing the adorable band of romance brothers on the top made the story really wonderful. But this element was missing in Undercover Bromance. The book club didn’t play as much of a role, but the whole harassment scandal felt over-the-top. The crime and the expressions from the victims were logical, but the reaction from the rest of the characters and their method of finding justice seemed too fictional to be true. And for someone with trust issues, Liv seemed to have no problem trusting random bouncer goons. Finally, I felt like there was way more unnecessary cussing in this book that the previous. It did put me off a little.
For me, the winner of this book was Braden Mack. I liked him from the first book and loved him by the end of the second. He had his flaws and secrets like every human being, but made up for it by being an adorable, open-hearted, lovable, book-boyfriend. I’d happily read another book full of his mis-adventures as a hopeless romantic in Nashville.
For more book reviews and blog posts, check out chaptersofmay.com or follow along at @chaptersofmay!
An eARC of this book was provided in exchange for review.
The Boyfriend Project started off as a simple contemporary romance but with an unpredictable twist and engaging plot, it became a really enjoyable and entertaining book.
Samiah is a brilliant protagonist. She is straight-talking, ambitious, honest and intelligent without compromising her kindness and humility. I liked that she was a successful woman striving for even more, rather than just getting to a good point and accepting she was at the top. Going against the odds as a black woman working in the tech industry, she continued to break barriers and stereotypes. Even during the chaos of being part of a viral video, Samiah is still able to preserve her heroine status.
Daniel is an appealing love interest for the main character. He is very sweet, charming and thoughtful, even though he exists under this cloud of mystery. The reader learns about his past and agenda in the book, but the characters are left in the dark. And without spoiling the entire book, it was intriguing to see how Daniel’s involvement in the story played out.
The romance was sweet in this book. I was expecting more, but there were cute moments dotted throughout. I definitely rooted for the love story between Samiah and Daniel, and their mutual attraction and chemistry was obvious from the beginning. Their open conversation was well-balanced, and I like how Daniel became a cheerleader for Samiah, especially when discussing the more serious topics like race and sexism in the workplace.
If there’s one thing the author masters it is celebration of female friendship in the book, especially because it rose from mutual betrayal and misfortune. Three women dating one man could easily result in the unhealthy competition society likes to breed. But instead the ladies walked out on Craig in total triumph – it was glorious.
I love that even after the event, the woman make an effort to maintain a friendship. It’s not easy to build platonic relationships in a new place, and the author touched in this through the storylines in the book. Samiah’s new friends are awesome too: Taylor has a quirky sense of humour while London has more of a wry wit. The women aren’t carbon copies of each other, they have different personalities, backgrounds and circumstances, but this doesn’t become a stumbling block in their budding friendship.
One of the most accurate aspects of this book is that the hard-working characters actually spend time at work. Samiah, Daniel and many of the secondary characters have demanding full-time jobs and work to earn the praise they receive. The author did a great job at developing an authentic but humorous workplace environment, and I really enjoyed the events that took place at the Trendsetters office.
For me, the highlight of the book is Samiah’s exciting ambition and her experiences. The twist from Daniel’s side of things definitely kept me reading, but I related to Samiah as a black woman and found her to be really inspiring.
It’s safe to say The Boyfriend Project read a lot like a film. It’s well-paced, easy to follow and filled with likable characters. Even the ones you don’t like are a great addition to the story. This book is perfect for fans of an office romance with a great twist. The only reason it wasn’t a five-star read is because the resolution fell a little flat and wasn’t as satisfying as I would have hoped.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram
The Boyfriend Project started off as a simple contemporary romance but with an unpredictable twist and engaging plot, it became a really enjoyable and entertaining book.
Samiah is a brilliant protagonist. She is straight-talking, ambitious, honest and intelligent without compromising her kindness and humility. I liked that she was a successful woman striving for even more, rather than just getting to a good point and accepting she was at the top. Going against the odds as a black woman working in the tech industry, she continued to break barriers and stereotypes. Even during the chaos of being part of a viral video, Samiah is still able to preserve her heroine status.
Daniel is an appealing love interest for the main character. He is very sweet, charming and thoughtful, even though he exists under this cloud of mystery. The reader learns about his past and agenda in the book, but the characters are left in the dark. And without spoiling the entire book, it was intriguing to see how Daniel’s involvement in the story played out.
The romance was sweet in this book. I was expecting more, but there were cute moments dotted throughout. I definitely rooted for the love story between Samiah and Daniel, and their mutual attraction and chemistry was obvious from the beginning. Their open conversation was well-balanced, and I like how Daniel became a cheerleader for Samiah, especially when discussing the more serious topics like race and sexism in the workplace.
If there’s one thing the author masters it is celebration of female friendship in the book, especially because it rose from mutual betrayal and misfortune. Three women dating one man could easily result in the unhealthy competition society likes to breed. But instead the ladies walked out on Craig in total triumph – it was glorious.
I love that even after the event, the woman make an effort to maintain a friendship. It’s not easy to build platonic relationships in a new place, and the author touched in this through the storylines in the book. Samiah’s new friends are awesome too: Taylor has a quirky sense of humour while London has more of a wry wit. The women aren’t carbon copies of each other, they have different personalities, backgrounds and circumstances, but this doesn’t become a stumbling block in their budding friendship.
One of the most accurate aspects of this book is that the hard-working characters actually spend time at work. Samiah, Daniel and many of the secondary characters have demanding full-time jobs and work to earn the praise they receive. The author did a great job at developing an authentic but humorous workplace environment, and I really enjoyed the events that took place at the Trendsetters office.
For me, the highlight of the book is Samiah’s exciting ambition and her experiences. The twist from Daniel’s side of things definitely kept me reading, but I related to Samiah as a black woman and found her to be really inspiring.
It’s safe to say The Boyfriend Project read a lot like a film. It’s well-paced, easy to follow and filled with likable characters. Even the ones you don’t like are a great addition to the story. This book is perfect for fans of an office romance with a great twist. The only reason it wasn’t a five-star read is because the resolution fell a little flat and wasn’t as satisfying as I would have hoped.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram
Thank you to the author and publisher for this eARC!
If you like The Holiday, you’ll like this book. The Staycation gives the same fuzzy charm as any feel-good movie. It’s heartfelt but funny, which in my opinion, is the best combination.
The chapters alternate between the lives of two mothers: Harriet and Sophie. Harriet is very straightforward. She’s a logical thinker, thrives in organisation, and enjoys life as a successful solicitor. She has a teenage daughter, Billie, and a goat-loving husband, James. Sophie is a kind soul. She’s friendly, intelligent and significantly less organised than Harriet. She’s married to James, a dominating solicitor and they have two children, Katie and Oliver.
After a cancelled flight to Italy, Harriet and her family end up staying in Sophie’s house in London. While Sophie and her family end up staying in Harriet’s house in rural Gloucestershire. Neither of the women have perfect marriages. The flame between Harriet and James is dying out, and despite the little moments they have together, there’s a still a cavity between them. Dan thinks of himself as a provider to Sophie. He pretty much arranges everything she does and wears. What he calls it “looking after”, most people would call possessiveness.
The plot is totally addictive. When I put the book down, I was still thinking about the characters and the story. I always wanted to know what would happen next. I also found myself feeling really comfortable with this book. It’s the kind of story I would reach for when the sun is shining. Despite the struggles the characters face, there’s something about Gorman’s writing that just feels warm and inviting.
The characters were so well developed. I knew who I liked and who I didn’t like from just a few pages of dialogue, which gave the book a good head start. However, I definitely feel like we could have had more from James as a character. Dan had the kind of personality that’s very easy to figure out. It doesn’t take long to dislike him. James on the other hand didn’t seem to have much of an opinion on anything, didn’t react much, and fell into the background.
The multi-layered story had both families facing trials. Harriet’s family had to reconnect and rebuild. Over the years, family bonds suffer from wear and tear, and I really like that the relationships aren’t perfect. They’re realistic and authentic. Gorman tactfully told a story that has weighty concepts with a levity that made it enjoyable.
There are little moments that definitely made me chuckle. Like the fact that Harriet becomes frustrated with James’ breathing, or Sophie’s reaction to unconventional spa treatments. It added a smooth light-heartedness and cheeriness to this summer read. I also really liked that the author established two different atmospheres between the families. They never bled into one giant group of people, even the children had their own tone of voice which was lovely.
The only reason this book wasn’t a five-star read for me, is because I would have liked more from the ending, it felt a little rushed. I wasn’t totally satisfied, and I think the circle could have been completed with an epilogue or a fuller conclusion.
Overall, The Staycation is an entertaining read. I liked the dynamic between the two families and the fact they both had to overcome challenges to grow closer. If you’re looking for a relaxing, poolside, charming read, this is the book for you.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram
If you like The Holiday, you’ll like this book. The Staycation gives the same fuzzy charm as any feel-good movie. It’s heartfelt but funny, which in my opinion, is the best combination.
The chapters alternate between the lives of two mothers: Harriet and Sophie. Harriet is very straightforward. She’s a logical thinker, thrives in organisation, and enjoys life as a successful solicitor. She has a teenage daughter, Billie, and a goat-loving husband, James. Sophie is a kind soul. She’s friendly, intelligent and significantly less organised than Harriet. She’s married to James, a dominating solicitor and they have two children, Katie and Oliver.
After a cancelled flight to Italy, Harriet and her family end up staying in Sophie’s house in London. While Sophie and her family end up staying in Harriet’s house in rural Gloucestershire. Neither of the women have perfect marriages. The flame between Harriet and James is dying out, and despite the little moments they have together, there’s a still a cavity between them. Dan thinks of himself as a provider to Sophie. He pretty much arranges everything she does and wears. What he calls it “looking after”, most people would call possessiveness.
The plot is totally addictive. When I put the book down, I was still thinking about the characters and the story. I always wanted to know what would happen next. I also found myself feeling really comfortable with this book. It’s the kind of story I would reach for when the sun is shining. Despite the struggles the characters face, there’s something about Gorman’s writing that just feels warm and inviting.
The characters were so well developed. I knew who I liked and who I didn’t like from just a few pages of dialogue, which gave the book a good head start. However, I definitely feel like we could have had more from James as a character. Dan had the kind of personality that’s very easy to figure out. It doesn’t take long to dislike him. James on the other hand didn’t seem to have much of an opinion on anything, didn’t react much, and fell into the background.
The multi-layered story had both families facing trials. Harriet’s family had to reconnect and rebuild. Over the years, family bonds suffer from wear and tear, and I really like that the relationships aren’t perfect. They’re realistic and authentic. Gorman tactfully told a story that has weighty concepts with a levity that made it enjoyable.
There are little moments that definitely made me chuckle. Like the fact that Harriet becomes frustrated with James’ breathing, or Sophie’s reaction to unconventional spa treatments. It added a smooth light-heartedness and cheeriness to this summer read. I also really liked that the author established two different atmospheres between the families. They never bled into one giant group of people, even the children had their own tone of voice which was lovely.
The only reason this book wasn’t a five-star read for me, is because I would have liked more from the ending, it felt a little rushed. I wasn’t totally satisfied, and I think the circle could have been completed with an epilogue or a fuller conclusion.
Overall, The Staycation is an entertaining read. I liked the dynamic between the two families and the fact they both had to overcome challenges to grow closer. If you’re looking for a relaxing, poolside, charming read, this is the book for you.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram
Olive Stone is a thirty-something career woman living in London. She’s ambitious, headstrong, and witty. Her best friends, Bea, Isla and Cecily have been her closest companions since her school days. When they graduate university, they promise to keep their tight-knit bond at the forefront of their lives. But when met with life’s ups and downs, that pact is much easier said than done.
As Olive’s friends move through life, with their careers, their marriages, and their families, Olive starts to question her choices. Because her life looks different. But the thing is, Olive doesn’t want the same things her friends do. Mainly, she doesn’t have the same maternal desire her friends have.
The book jumps between the past and present years of Olive’s life. I didn’t expect this format, but it made it so such much easier to get to know the characters. Although the entire story is told from Olive’s point of view, the reader gets to know her friends incredibly well. Like most friendship groups, every person plays a role. I really like how the author managed to keep each voice very unique but lifelike. No character bled into another, they all had a different tone which added to the authenticity of this tale.
I love that I can’t relate to the main character in any way, yet it’s so easy to empathise with her. Her personal battle isn’t something I’ve given much thought to, but it didn’t diminish how she felt to me. Olive is so human it was difficult not to feel for her. She isn’t perfect by any means. There are a lot of things she does that irritate me. But it was an understandable irritation, the same way you become irritated with yourself for mistakes and missteps. Olive has her good days and her bad, and I like that the author included both in her story. It made everything seem more down-to-earth.
I adore the bond of friendship between the women. This is another huge highlight for me. I wish I had that kind of friend group. Even with the bumps in the road, the love and loyalty they have for one another is really heart-warming to read. The dynamic between the four women is entirely lifelike and representative to modern-day friendships. Some grow close while others drift, then it switches depending on circumstance, then it switches again. There’s a genuine flow that really grounded the conversation between Olive, Bea, Isla and Cecily.
Gannon’s writing is warm and compassionate, even as the characters in her book struggle with weighty issues. Motherhood is explored in a variety of ways through the characters, and no path feels less significant than the other. This book really forces you reflect and it’s a brilliant quality for a novel to have. As we see the group evolve, it subtly pushes the reader to examine their own choices and desires.
The only thing that stopped this novel being a five-star read was the length. Some chapters or moments didn’t feel necessary, and I was tempted to skim a few pages. I also appreciate that Olive was going through a very real struggle and felt alone, but her thoughts felts repetitive from time to time. There were a few times I felt like the character said the same things over and over.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Olive. This debut novel explores a woman’s decision to live child-free, life after a break-up, female friendship, and navigating adulthood. And Emma Gannon’s original and honest voice made it a refreshingly pleasant read.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram
As Olive’s friends move through life, with their careers, their marriages, and their families, Olive starts to question her choices. Because her life looks different. But the thing is, Olive doesn’t want the same things her friends do. Mainly, she doesn’t have the same maternal desire her friends have.
The book jumps between the past and present years of Olive’s life. I didn’t expect this format, but it made it so such much easier to get to know the characters. Although the entire story is told from Olive’s point of view, the reader gets to know her friends incredibly well. Like most friendship groups, every person plays a role. I really like how the author managed to keep each voice very unique but lifelike. No character bled into another, they all had a different tone which added to the authenticity of this tale.
I love that I can’t relate to the main character in any way, yet it’s so easy to empathise with her. Her personal battle isn’t something I’ve given much thought to, but it didn’t diminish how she felt to me. Olive is so human it was difficult not to feel for her. She isn’t perfect by any means. There are a lot of things she does that irritate me. But it was an understandable irritation, the same way you become irritated with yourself for mistakes and missteps. Olive has her good days and her bad, and I like that the author included both in her story. It made everything seem more down-to-earth.
I adore the bond of friendship between the women. This is another huge highlight for me. I wish I had that kind of friend group. Even with the bumps in the road, the love and loyalty they have for one another is really heart-warming to read. The dynamic between the four women is entirely lifelike and representative to modern-day friendships. Some grow close while others drift, then it switches depending on circumstance, then it switches again. There’s a genuine flow that really grounded the conversation between Olive, Bea, Isla and Cecily.
Gannon’s writing is warm and compassionate, even as the characters in her book struggle with weighty issues. Motherhood is explored in a variety of ways through the characters, and no path feels less significant than the other. This book really forces you reflect and it’s a brilliant quality for a novel to have. As we see the group evolve, it subtly pushes the reader to examine their own choices and desires.
The only thing that stopped this novel being a five-star read was the length. Some chapters or moments didn’t feel necessary, and I was tempted to skim a few pages. I also appreciate that Olive was going through a very real struggle and felt alone, but her thoughts felts repetitive from time to time. There were a few times I felt like the character said the same things over and over.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Olive. This debut novel explores a woman’s decision to live child-free, life after a break-up, female friendship, and navigating adulthood. And Emma Gannon’s original and honest voice made it a refreshingly pleasant read.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!
The Love Square is honest and emotional read with lovable characters and a satisfying conclusion. It highlights the importance of finding yourself, and discovering what will make you truly happy.
The book started off strong. It was engaging and funny, I liked the characters and it felt mature and relevant. But as the plot went on it started to lose me. I think part of that is because I expected the book to have the same levity to Our Stop. And while it did have some sunnier moments, it was much more of an emotional story as opposed to a fun romantic comedy.
The story follows Penny Bridge, a café owner in London who temporarily moves to Derbyshire to run her uncle’s pub in Derbyshire. I loved Penny. She’s a business owner but also a family-orientated, strong-willed and courageous woman. We also listen to the same podcasts so I was instantly a fan. Although she considers herself unlucky in love, Penny soon finds herself at the centre of affections from three men: Francisco, Thomas and Priyesh.
One thing I realised early on in the book was that I didn’t particularly care who Penny ended up with. I wasn’t keen on any of the men, and I found their individual arcs to be unimpressive. Romantic chemistry was seriously lacking between the three and Penny. I was more interested in her infertility struggle and journey to IVF than who she actually fell in love with. The Love Square didn’t read like a romance despite its title, which was disappointing.
The main character is a cancer survivor, and I really liked how the author highlighted the struggles that come after treatment. The character points out how anyone going through treatment is desperate for it to be over, but no one really talks about what happens when it’s actually over. And as someone who has not been through that kind of traumatic experience, it was interesting to learn how someone who is cancer-free feels after their victorious battle. It doesn’t all just go back to normal, and I really wished this was explored a bit more in the book.
Laura Jane Williams is brilliant at writing conversation. The dialogue in The Love Square, much like Our Stop, is appealing and charming. As a reader, you thoroughly get to know the characters through their speech. The personalities of each of the characters really shines, especially through the way they interact with one another. I found it really easy to distinguish the difference between Penny’s love interests, her family and her friends.
When I first started reading, my imagination was as active as the plot. But sadly, I felt like the book slowed in the middle and I had to push myself to keep reading. A lot of the time I felt like I was turning pages but the story wasn’t moving forward. There was a huge urge to skip chapters because I kept waiting for something to happen, which is a shame because the premise really excited me.
I had the same issues with this book I had with Our Stop. While it’s well-written, it still feels like a giant BuzzFeed article. The jokes didn’t make me laugh, the celebrity name dropping was irritating and it made a book with heavy topics feel surface level.
Overall, The Love Square was okay. I adored it in the beginning, but as the story developed I lost interest in the original concept. By the end, I was only focused on Penny’s stability rather than her love story.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram
The Love Square is honest and emotional read with lovable characters and a satisfying conclusion. It highlights the importance of finding yourself, and discovering what will make you truly happy.
The book started off strong. It was engaging and funny, I liked the characters and it felt mature and relevant. But as the plot went on it started to lose me. I think part of that is because I expected the book to have the same levity to Our Stop. And while it did have some sunnier moments, it was much more of an emotional story as opposed to a fun romantic comedy.
The story follows Penny Bridge, a café owner in London who temporarily moves to Derbyshire to run her uncle’s pub in Derbyshire. I loved Penny. She’s a business owner but also a family-orientated, strong-willed and courageous woman. We also listen to the same podcasts so I was instantly a fan. Although she considers herself unlucky in love, Penny soon finds herself at the centre of affections from three men: Francisco, Thomas and Priyesh.
One thing I realised early on in the book was that I didn’t particularly care who Penny ended up with. I wasn’t keen on any of the men, and I found their individual arcs to be unimpressive. Romantic chemistry was seriously lacking between the three and Penny. I was more interested in her infertility struggle and journey to IVF than who she actually fell in love with. The Love Square didn’t read like a romance despite its title, which was disappointing.
The main character is a cancer survivor, and I really liked how the author highlighted the struggles that come after treatment. The character points out how anyone going through treatment is desperate for it to be over, but no one really talks about what happens when it’s actually over. And as someone who has not been through that kind of traumatic experience, it was interesting to learn how someone who is cancer-free feels after their victorious battle. It doesn’t all just go back to normal, and I really wished this was explored a bit more in the book.
Laura Jane Williams is brilliant at writing conversation. The dialogue in The Love Square, much like Our Stop, is appealing and charming. As a reader, you thoroughly get to know the characters through their speech. The personalities of each of the characters really shines, especially through the way they interact with one another. I found it really easy to distinguish the difference between Penny’s love interests, her family and her friends.
When I first started reading, my imagination was as active as the plot. But sadly, I felt like the book slowed in the middle and I had to push myself to keep reading. A lot of the time I felt like I was turning pages but the story wasn’t moving forward. There was a huge urge to skip chapters because I kept waiting for something to happen, which is a shame because the premise really excited me.
I had the same issues with this book I had with Our Stop. While it’s well-written, it still feels like a giant BuzzFeed article. The jokes didn’t make me laugh, the celebrity name dropping was irritating and it made a book with heavy topics feel surface level.
Overall, The Love Square was okay. I adored it in the beginning, but as the story developed I lost interest in the original concept. By the end, I was only focused on Penny’s stability rather than her love story.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram
The Shelf is a relevant story with an important message: accept yourself first.
Amy faces the challenge many women face today. She feels left behind. Everyone around her is either having babies, getting married or renovating their kitchen. There’s no escaping it. Meanwhile, 32-year-old Amy is feeling tangled in her standstill relationship with her boyfriend of two years, Jamie. This man merely had to say two words for me to dislike him, if that was the author’s goal she succeeded magnificently. Seeking to move forward in their relationship, Amy is thrilled when Jamie surprises her with a secret holiday. Only to be devastated when she realises he has dumped her on a reality TV show for the next month. Think Love Island meets Big Brother meets The Circle.
She’s not alone, there are five other women going through the same thing. Jackie, Gemma, Kathy, Amy, Hattie and Lauren. I absolutely love how their journey is the foundation of the story. A good majority of the book is banter between the characters, so it took a few chapters of me to really get into the dialogue. Still, this doesn’t take away from my appreciation for the female friendship that begins to build and the author’s flair for writing witty conversation.
The basis of the reality television show is simple. The women live together for four weeks and take part in ridiculous challenges to learn how to be more desirable to men. At the end, the winner is crowned ‘The Keeper’. The one thing I really admire about the Acton’s intention with this show is that it highlights the poisonousness in misogynistic society. The feminism is not preachy or contentious, but humorous and engaging. However, the male characters in this show take obnoxiousness to the point of no return. At first, it was the funny kind of irritating. But after a few pages of questionable phrases, it grew tiresome. A respectable male character would have balanced this out.
There’s one aspect that really disappointed me in this book: Jackie’s character. As the only black girl, she’s a walking stereotype – braids, gold jewellery and all. She is essentially a parody which is really frustrating to read. In comparison to the other women, Jackie was the loudest, the most outspoken, and the only one to come across as a mean girl. My issue is that Gemma is just as brazen and extroverted as Jackie, but she is perceived as heroic and relatable.
Jackie’s personality feels like it is constructed to appear off-putting. Her battle against sexism and racism in her career is briefly discussed, but not enough to make me as a reader feel sorry for her. When in a group of six other upbeat white women, her confidence is painted as aggressive and uninviting. Her character is endlessly seen to be hollering indecently in one way or another. It would have been nice to see a black girl who didn’t fit that caricature of being the sassy comedic relief. As a black female reader, that would have been much more relatable.
The character development in this novel wins the stars for this book. Amy undergoes a transformative shift in her way of thinking. The reader gets to experience Amy’s change into a new personality as she rebuilds the amazing woman she is. The self-love journey each of the women go on is really heart-warming and made the book an enjoyable read.
And I really like the message the Acton conveys through the story. Keeping track of social norms doesn’t help us move forward, if anything, it holds us back. We must learn to love ourselves first, and then go from there.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram
Amy faces the challenge many women face today. She feels left behind. Everyone around her is either having babies, getting married or renovating their kitchen. There’s no escaping it. Meanwhile, 32-year-old Amy is feeling tangled in her standstill relationship with her boyfriend of two years, Jamie. This man merely had to say two words for me to dislike him, if that was the author’s goal she succeeded magnificently. Seeking to move forward in their relationship, Amy is thrilled when Jamie surprises her with a secret holiday. Only to be devastated when she realises he has dumped her on a reality TV show for the next month. Think Love Island meets Big Brother meets The Circle.
She’s not alone, there are five other women going through the same thing. Jackie, Gemma, Kathy, Amy, Hattie and Lauren. I absolutely love how their journey is the foundation of the story. A good majority of the book is banter between the characters, so it took a few chapters of me to really get into the dialogue. Still, this doesn’t take away from my appreciation for the female friendship that begins to build and the author’s flair for writing witty conversation.
The basis of the reality television show is simple. The women live together for four weeks and take part in ridiculous challenges to learn how to be more desirable to men. At the end, the winner is crowned ‘The Keeper’. The one thing I really admire about the Acton’s intention with this show is that it highlights the poisonousness in misogynistic society. The feminism is not preachy or contentious, but humorous and engaging. However, the male characters in this show take obnoxiousness to the point of no return. At first, it was the funny kind of irritating. But after a few pages of questionable phrases, it grew tiresome. A respectable male character would have balanced this out.
There’s one aspect that really disappointed me in this book: Jackie’s character. As the only black girl, she’s a walking stereotype – braids, gold jewellery and all. She is essentially a parody which is really frustrating to read. In comparison to the other women, Jackie was the loudest, the most outspoken, and the only one to come across as a mean girl. My issue is that Gemma is just as brazen and extroverted as Jackie, but she is perceived as heroic and relatable.
Jackie’s personality feels like it is constructed to appear off-putting. Her battle against sexism and racism in her career is briefly discussed, but not enough to make me as a reader feel sorry for her. When in a group of six other upbeat white women, her confidence is painted as aggressive and uninviting. Her character is endlessly seen to be hollering indecently in one way or another. It would have been nice to see a black girl who didn’t fit that caricature of being the sassy comedic relief. As a black female reader, that would have been much more relatable.
The character development in this novel wins the stars for this book. Amy undergoes a transformative shift in her way of thinking. The reader gets to experience Amy’s change into a new personality as she rebuilds the amazing woman she is. The self-love journey each of the women go on is really heart-warming and made the book an enjoyable read.
And I really like the message the Acton conveys through the story. Keeping track of social norms doesn’t help us move forward, if anything, it holds us back. We must learn to love ourselves first, and then go from there.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram
