georgiasbookescapes's reviews
421 reviews

The Seven Day Switch by Meg Chronis

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

Gem Stratton is a mega South African celebrity. But when she ends up in a scandal involving animals, the only way to make amends is to complete community service to turn things around. But she isn’t coping. So her identical twin sister Becca, a concierge in London agrees to a twin switch. Becca’s only meant to be there to complete the community service hours and get out. Simple right? Or is this every 90’s/00’s comedy a la The Parent Trap? 

The pop culture references were amazing throwbacks to 90’s/00’s. This book was quick, simple and full of delicious romantic tensions! If you’re looking for your next fun, flirty, rom-com, and one fabulously set on a South African backdrop look no further! 😍 and someone turn this into a movie already?? I want to see Dr Sully in action! 😍 also cannot wait for the next book!!!! I’m not commonly a series gal, but this has me hooked! 

Thanks for this ARC NetGalley and Meg Chronis Books! 

Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

How does an ex-tax lawyer end up caught up personally in the legal system? Well that’s the story Ava has to tell, following a reformed friendship with her ex-college roommate Winnie. Who would ever expect two good Chinese American women would possibly deal in counterfeit bags?

This books writing style was completely different to what I initially expected with it largely being written in a style of speaking to someone. But overall, it’s clever and looks at racism and consumerism with a mystery twist! It’s been picked up for Reese Witherspoons book club and Roxanne Gays book club and with good reason too! 

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

May the odds be ever in your favour. The regions are falling, the revolution has begun. The take over for the capital is happening. No one is safe.

The final saga in this trilogy doesn’t hold back any punches. You thought the other books were heavy? Prepare for more. Loss of life never feels as heavy as this fiction worlds does but probably because it’s nothing compared to the loss of life we’re seeing to genocides around the world currently. Collins never promised a happy ending and is hard as it can be, that’s something I like in a book, especially like this. 

Talking To My Country by Stan Grant

challenging informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Stan Grant is a Wiradjuri man and journalist since 1987 working numerous companies such as SBS, NITV, Seven Network, Sky News, CNN and as an editor of Indigenous Affairs Coverage for the ABC. I read this book on Kaurna Yarta. 

This is book looks at many of Grant’s own experiences with race and identity and looks at numerous aspects of how history has shaped him and his family before him. Sparked off following witnessing and the following coverage of Adam Goodes being called a racial slur during an AFL match and the conversations that were seen as a result. Grant looks at the impacts of racial policies and the impact that has had on so called Australia. 

This book inspires you to think more about what you know of history and whose telling the story. How has that impacted the stories we’ve learned and how do we find other versions of those same stories. An important, and impactful read.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Despite winning the Hunger Games the year before, life hasn’t gotten any easier for Katniss. If anything threats to her life and her loved ones are only increasing and getting worse with the impending 75th Hunger Games. Whispers of revolt are in the air. But whose to say what that will mean for life as she knows it?

Ooft. Collins certainly knows how to build suspense just to drop a bombshell at the end! Much like I found with re-reading book one. There’s so much I’ve forgotten over time and the cleverness of these books is surprising me all over again! If you haven’t read this and love a critic on society - get amongst this series because it’s still hitting hard over a decade later!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

In the future America falls apart through a revolution. In its place The Capitol is built with 13 districts, but only 12 will exist ongoing. To make up for the district rebellions, The Hunger Games begins. It’s now the 74th Hunger Games. 12 boys and 12 girls - one from each district will be selected to kill each other, till only one victor remains the winner.

Wow! I forgot how good this series is and how dark it is!!! I first read the series around 12 or so years ago and possibly a re-read or two over that time as well. But I really forgot just how dark it is and how little the romance features (which is a nice thing for me these days). I remember a friend trying to get me into it the first time and what hooked me to start was knowing there was romance and a love triangle but these days it’s the commentary on society. There’s a clear reason this series remains a classic even to this day!

Offside Hearts by Nikki Lawson

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

When going for a new job interview for the NHL Denver Aces Margo finds herself stuck in an elevator with non other than the team captain Noah. Thankfully he’s more than happy to help distract her anxieties… and from there, everything falls quickly into place.

Insta love hockey smut romance? Possible to be my thing. This book? Didn’t do it for me. I enjoyed the first half but honestly it needed to be about 100 pages shorter, get rid of the “touch her and die” and a better third act break up twist. But I guess that can be the risk I take at times with a kindle unlimited hockey romance. 🙊

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and keeper of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom on the streets of White Roaring transforms in the dark to a blood house for the local vampires feared by society. When Arthie’s establishment is threatened she needs to collate a crew to infiltrate the vampire society known as Athereum. But can Arthie trust all of her crew? Time will tell as the heist unfolds. 

So fantasy is not normally my genre at all. But this one surprised me! There was some thoughts of a possible DNF in the first quarter but I’m so glad I kept going! Sometimes maybe due to my reading speed I felt like tiny details weren’t fully written in? But overall, I loved this! I normally am not a heist fan, but I loved this crew and the way they worked together and distrusted each other all at once! The world felt so close to reality to me which also helped me love it as that’s a space that can quickly lose my personal interest. This book seriously needs to be made into a movie or TV series ASAP! The world, the characters and the twists would just all be incredible on screen!

My Week with Him by Joya Goffney

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Nikki never had it easy with her mum. So when an opportunity comes up in LA she’s ready to take her chance. But when her best friend Mal finds out he makes her promise a week with him first. This week might just change everything…

Ooft the emotional abusive parent plot line is heavy in this YA! Goffney certainly knows how to pack a punch in the best ways! Much heavier than Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry - My Week With Him deals with much heavier topics but in such an incredible and hopeful way! Suffice to say either way - Goffney’s is a favourite for me!

Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

Logan and Rosemary once best friends as children are sworn enemies for the last 18 years. But when their favourite teacher Joe is dying of cancer and asks them to go on a death road trip with him, there’s no way to say no. With time stuck together in the gay mobile they’re forced to really, finally talk as they travel across America.

Cochrun described the book as a gay death road trip rom-com and that’s exactly what it is! It broke my heart, put it back together and stretched it in every direction. I love this book so much. Cochrun is really an insta buy author for me with the twists of diversity she brings in. I adored all of the characters and would love to go to the drag event they did!