patsy's reviews
201 reviews

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I now want an octopus 🐙😍

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

challenging informative reflective 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

2.5

2.5⭐️

I really wanted to like this more than I did but I just didn’t 

It started well but the second half felt long. Also, Esme, the main character, had no personality, none 😲

Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really did enjoy this book, it took us back in time to the late 70s early 80s Abigail and Frances would be the same age as me at the time so that was interesting though my problem with these kind of books is that they say the year is 1979 but because they don’t mention any pop culture references it could be any year in any decade 🤷🏼‍♀️

Eyes of Glass by Joe Cawley, Gemma Metcalfe

challenging dark mysterious sad fast-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

This felt like a YA, though it’s not branded as such. If you suspend disbelief it’s not so bad, it’s certainly not the worst of its kind. 
It kept me reading mainly due to the wonderfully short chapters. 

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

dark emotional 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? No

2.5

2.5⭐️

This book was hard going, I liked the premise of it but the execution, no. I found it confusing and some of the sentences 🤦🏼‍♀️ why say it in ten words when you can use one hundred 😐

I didn’t connect with any of the characters, they were all whiney, for a book with the title Bright Young Women you’d think the author would have given them a backbone 😐 

This one wasn’t for me, I think I’m better sticking with true crime. 

The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.0

Oh this was good. 

Told over six parts, it’s full of twists and turns. Just as you think you have it sussed, bam! No you don’t 🤦🏼‍♀️

It lost a star as I found it a little repetitive and also you have to suspend all belief but I don’t mind that much as long as I’m kept entertained. 

If you pick this up I suggest you go in blind. 

I Did It For You by Jayne Cowie

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this dystopian tale, set in the near future with a “what would you do “ theme.

Told in multiple POVs and dual timelines this book had me racing through the pages. It was just a shame that life and work kept getting in the way 😐

I shall be looking out for more by this author. 

I recommend 🙂

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This got me hooked from the first few pages and kept my interest throughout, even though it was a slow burn. 

This wasn’t a thriller as described by the blurb, more domestic drama. It’s told through multiple POVs and timelines. 

I loved how she brought the three main characters to life, I felt like I knew them at the end 😀 It just missed the mark to make it a 4⭐️ read but a good solid effort. 

I recommend ✨

Killing Time by Alan Bennett

dark funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

This book is set in a care home during the Covid. It was humorous with some good characters, it felt like a demented Lord of the Flies 🤷🏼‍♀️

The family by Mandasue Heller

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This was quite bland. It was a tell me not show me book. Everything was just on the surface with no depth to it. 

I do enjoy gangland crime but this is not the best of its genre.