Scan barcode
samsweebooknook's reviews
91 reviews
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
5.0
Set in 1596 and inspired by the short life of Shakespeare's son who died at the tender age of 11, Hamnet is the story of a boy whose life has been all but forgotten, but whose name was given to one of the most celebrated plays ever written.
I've had this one on my shelf for the longest time but kept putting off reading it. I'm very much a mood reader and knew this one would be a harder hitting story emotionally than many of my current reads. However it's one I really wanted to read by the end of the year and I'm so glad I did.
It was a slow burn for me, and it was only about halfway through that I really felt fully invested into the lives of Agnes and her children, but it was well worth the build up.
The prose is stunning. The almost rhythmic writing transported me back to the 16th centuary with ease. It's an emotional read and hard hitting at times but done sensitively and respectfully. The chapters covering Hamnet's death and the period of grief and mourning afterwards felt so raw and authentic that I had tears in my eyes.
Strangely, there was a hint of magical realism in the storyline and while it didn't feel totally out of place, I did wonder about the purpose of it and if it was really necessary to the story. That aside, this is devastatingly beautiful. A touching and moving story that will be up in my list of favourites at the end of the year.
I've had this one on my shelf for the longest time but kept putting off reading it. I'm very much a mood reader and knew this one would be a harder hitting story emotionally than many of my current reads. However it's one I really wanted to read by the end of the year and I'm so glad I did.
It was a slow burn for me, and it was only about halfway through that I really felt fully invested into the lives of Agnes and her children, but it was well worth the build up.
The prose is stunning. The almost rhythmic writing transported me back to the 16th centuary with ease. It's an emotional read and hard hitting at times but done sensitively and respectfully. The chapters covering Hamnet's death and the period of grief and mourning afterwards felt so raw and authentic that I had tears in my eyes.
Strangely, there was a hint of magical realism in the storyline and while it didn't feel totally out of place, I did wonder about the purpose of it and if it was really necessary to the story. That aside, this is devastatingly beautiful. A touching and moving story that will be up in my list of favourites at the end of the year.
It's a Wonderful Life for Lexie Byrne by Caroline Grace-Cassidy
3.5
The second in the Lexie Byrne series, Lexie is now juggling a long distance relationship with work and friendships but the long distance scenario isn't quite the happy ever after she anticipated.
I really enjoyed coming back to see where Lexie is at in the second book. While it can be read as a stand alone, I think you get a lot more from it having read The Unexpected Love Story of Lexie Byrne first so I'd recommend reading them in order.
A witty, funny, feel good read that's ideal to snuggle up with for the festive season. If you enjoy the likes of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk and Jane Costello, then the Lexie Byrne series is one to try!
I really enjoyed coming back to see where Lexie is at in the second book. While it can be read as a stand alone, I think you get a lot more from it having read The Unexpected Love Story of Lexie Byrne first so I'd recommend reading them in order.
A witty, funny, feel good read that's ideal to snuggle up with for the festive season. If you enjoy the likes of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk and Jane Costello, then the Lexie Byrne series is one to try!
The Forester's Daughter by Claire Keegan
4.5
Claire Keegan has once again swept me away in less than 80 pages. Compelling, original and beautifully written, Keegan has such a talent for telling a tale full of depth in such few words. Subtle yet mesmerising prose with characters that feel genuine and real, this is another stunning short story from her. As you can tell I'm quite the fan of Claire Keegan and this didn't disappoint.
Bessborough: Three Women. Three Decades. Three Stories of Courage by Deirdre Finnerty
5.0
Bessborough is the story of one of Ireland's largest mother and baby institutions, more specifically sharing the accounts of three women who were confined there in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
As a bit of background for anyone in the UK or further afield who isn't aware of the scandal surrounding the mother and baby homes here in Ireland, these institutions were predominantly run through church orders and funded by the Irish government. Unmarried mothers, who were seen to be committing a great sin by having a child out of wedlock, were sent here in shame to give birth to babies who they were not allowed to keep, often being adopted out against the mothers wishes. Babies who were seen as unadoptable (due to race or disabilities) didn't tend to thrive and the mortality rate was devastatingly high.
The experiences shared in this book are devastating and it's hard to believe that this all occured in such recent history - Bessborough was operational until 1998. While the majority of us have heard tales of what happened in institutions like this, this book gives a vivid and more personal look at not only what they experienced while there, but how it affected their lives after they left.
I'm not sure I can say much more than has already been said in various reviews so I find myself echoing others - this should be mandatory reading. What a powerful and important book, giving a voice to those who have been silenced for so many years, and whose stories must not be forgotten.
I bought this not long after it was released but didn't read it as I wasn't sure if it would be too heavy a read. My only regret is not having picked it up sooner. Yes it's harrowing and upsetting but it's handled sensitively and compassionately. Infact I could barely put it down.
I have so much admiration for Deirdre for providing a platform for these stories to be told, and to the amazing women who were brave enough to come forward and share their truth. A moving and powerful read that will sit with me for a long time.
As a bit of background for anyone in the UK or further afield who isn't aware of the scandal surrounding the mother and baby homes here in Ireland, these institutions were predominantly run through church orders and funded by the Irish government. Unmarried mothers, who were seen to be committing a great sin by having a child out of wedlock, were sent here in shame to give birth to babies who they were not allowed to keep, often being adopted out against the mothers wishes. Babies who were seen as unadoptable (due to race or disabilities) didn't tend to thrive and the mortality rate was devastatingly high.
The experiences shared in this book are devastating and it's hard to believe that this all occured in such recent history - Bessborough was operational until 1998. While the majority of us have heard tales of what happened in institutions like this, this book gives a vivid and more personal look at not only what they experienced while there, but how it affected their lives after they left.
I'm not sure I can say much more than has already been said in various reviews so I find myself echoing others - this should be mandatory reading. What a powerful and important book, giving a voice to those who have been silenced for so many years, and whose stories must not be forgotten.
I bought this not long after it was released but didn't read it as I wasn't sure if it would be too heavy a read. My only regret is not having picked it up sooner. Yes it's harrowing and upsetting but it's handled sensitively and compassionately. Infact I could barely put it down.
I have so much admiration for Deirdre for providing a platform for these stories to be told, and to the amazing women who were brave enough to come forward and share their truth. A moving and powerful read that will sit with me for a long time.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
4.5
Once a year the infamous Master Legend hosts Caraval. Only open to those who have been invited, each player is vying to win the coveted prize - a single wish. Scarlett and her sister Tella live with their powerful, cruel father and each year hope to receive an invite from Legend. This year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. When they arrive and Tella goes missing, Scarlett realises Caraval is more dangerous than she anticipated as she races to finish the game and find her sister.
Given that fantasy is way out of my comfort zone, I was slightly apprehensive going into this one but I needn't have worried. Enchanting, whimsical, captivating.....it completely took me by surprise how much I enjoyed it. The world building and atmosphere was done perfectly. It gave me Alice in Wonderland type vibes and I was completely drawn in to the world created on the pages. Beautifully written and deeply atmospheric, this has become a favourite of mine for this month and I'm looking forward to reading the second in the series. 4.5 stars for me!
Given that fantasy is way out of my comfort zone, I was slightly apprehensive going into this one but I needn't have worried. Enchanting, whimsical, captivating.....it completely took me by surprise how much I enjoyed it. The world building and atmosphere was done perfectly. It gave me Alice in Wonderland type vibes and I was completely drawn in to the world created on the pages. Beautifully written and deeply atmospheric, this has become a favourite of mine for this month and I'm looking forward to reading the second in the series. 4.5 stars for me!
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
2.5
A short novella to add to the Twilight series, with this one focusing on Bree Tanner who was just a teenager when Riley turned her into a vampire. Introduced to us in Eclipse, she only had a small part in the main story, however her novella gives the reader a chance to see what life as a newborn vampire is actually like.
For someone with such a minor role, I always quite liked Bree and thought it would be really interesting to see a bit of her backstory and learn more about her. Unfortunately I wasn't as invested in this book as I thought I would be. It was interesting to see the newborn phase from a point of view other than Bella (who had super self control so didn't really count), and also see to the Cullen's from an outsider's point of view, but I found it quite a slow burn. The first half of the book felt completely separate to the rest of the Twilight series with the second half drawing me in more.
Also while it's only a novella at 170ish pages, I didn't like the fact that there were no chapters and it was essentially one long read - something which may not be an issue for others but it did affect my enjoyment of the book.
Even though we know the fate of Bree from both the books and movies, and the title's a bit of a giveaway aswell ðŸ¤, I was rooting for a different ending for her.
So while it didn't add a huge amount to the Twilight series, it was an easy read that I'm glad I read just to say I finished the whole series. A 2.5 star for me.
For someone with such a minor role, I always quite liked Bree and thought it would be really interesting to see a bit of her backstory and learn more about her. Unfortunately I wasn't as invested in this book as I thought I would be. It was interesting to see the newborn phase from a point of view other than Bella (who had super self control so didn't really count), and also see to the Cullen's from an outsider's point of view, but I found it quite a slow burn. The first half of the book felt completely separate to the rest of the Twilight series with the second half drawing me in more.
Also while it's only a novella at 170ish pages, I didn't like the fact that there were no chapters and it was essentially one long read - something which may not be an issue for others but it did affect my enjoyment of the book.
Even though we know the fate of Bree from both the books and movies, and the title's a bit of a giveaway aswell ðŸ¤, I was rooting for a different ending for her.
So while it didn't add a huge amount to the Twilight series, it was an easy read that I'm glad I read just to say I finished the whole series. A 2.5 star for me.
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
4.0
Florence Day is a successful ghostwriter for a well known romance author but when she's left heartbroken after a bad breakup, she begins to question if there even is such a thing as true love. When a family tragedy calls her back to her small hometown, Florence has to face up to the ghosts that haunt her - both figuratively and literally.
I went into this book with very low expectations, only reading it because it was the October book club pick for #prosbeforebrosbc. I'd read the blurb on the back and didn't think I was going to enjoy it. But such is the joy of bookclubs - you try books you might not have picked yourself and sometimes end up really enjoying it!
A fun, heartwarming, wholesome story of love, loss, grief, heartbreak and finding yourself. It's marketed as a romcom but I thought it had more dimension to it than that, with some quite poignant moments perfectly balanced with a dash of humour.
Very glad to have given this one a shot! A really solid 4 stars!
I went into this book with very low expectations, only reading it because it was the October book club pick for #prosbeforebrosbc. I'd read the blurb on the back and didn't think I was going to enjoy it. But such is the joy of bookclubs - you try books you might not have picked yourself and sometimes end up really enjoying it!
A fun, heartwarming, wholesome story of love, loss, grief, heartbreak and finding yourself. It's marketed as a romcom but I thought it had more dimension to it than that, with some quite poignant moments perfectly balanced with a dash of humour.
Very glad to have given this one a shot! A really solid 4 stars!
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
4.0
Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born into a life of wealth and privilege but against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, she often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. At a time when a serial killer is terrorising the streets of London, Audrey ends up finding herself in the heart of the investigation into Jack The Ripper.
I'm not normally a fan of YA (Young Adult) but I loved this! I've always had a morbid fascination with the Jack The Ripper case but it's important to note that while the book is obviously inspired by the infamous case, it is a work of fiction and there are historical inaccuracies in order to allow for the story to work. This didn't bother me at all as I knew going in that this was a fictional take on the events, was able to suspend disbelief and enjoy it for what it was. I also guessed who the Ripper was fairly early on, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment at all either.
Darkly atmospheric, a refreshingly strong female protagonist, a subtle romance subplot all wrapped around a murder mystery of one of the most famous unsolved cases in history. Thinking back to teenage me, this would have been right up my street! I only wish there had been YA books like this around when I was younger. As a teen this would probably have been a 5 star read from me. Adult Samantha is rating it 4 star. A great read for this time of year and another tick off my Spookathon list for October!
I'm not normally a fan of YA (Young Adult) but I loved this! I've always had a morbid fascination with the Jack The Ripper case but it's important to note that while the book is obviously inspired by the infamous case, it is a work of fiction and there are historical inaccuracies in order to allow for the story to work. This didn't bother me at all as I knew going in that this was a fictional take on the events, was able to suspend disbelief and enjoy it for what it was. I also guessed who the Ripper was fairly early on, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment at all either.
Darkly atmospheric, a refreshingly strong female protagonist, a subtle romance subplot all wrapped around a murder mystery of one of the most famous unsolved cases in history. Thinking back to teenage me, this would have been right up my street! I only wish there had been YA books like this around when I was younger. As a teen this would probably have been a 5 star read from me. Adult Samantha is rating it 4 star. A great read for this time of year and another tick off my Spookathon list for October!
The Emerald Spy by Nicola Cassidy
4.0
Inspired by true events, The Emerald Spy tells the story of a group of Austrian refugees who flee to Ireland in the summer of 1939, just before World War 2 is declared.
I was offered a gifted copy of this book and very nearly declined as while I'm a fan of historical fiction, I don't tend to reach for anything set during wartimes. However I'd read and loved Cassidys previous novel, The Nanny at Number 43, so I decided to accept based on my enjoyment of her writing style. I'm so glad I did.
The level of research that went into the book really shines through and it was eye opening and heartbreaking, to read some of the things these people had to go through and the attitudes towards them at the time. It also felt extremely timely given the current situation in Ukraine and how it must feel to be displaced from your home and family.
While it covers very serious topics, it doesn't at any point feel too heavy a read. The characters were well developed, so much so that I even found myself warming to Nola much more than I had anticipated!
A really great read that I'm glad I took a chance on.
I was offered a gifted copy of this book and very nearly declined as while I'm a fan of historical fiction, I don't tend to reach for anything set during wartimes. However I'd read and loved Cassidys previous novel, The Nanny at Number 43, so I decided to accept based on my enjoyment of her writing style. I'm so glad I did.
The level of research that went into the book really shines through and it was eye opening and heartbreaking, to read some of the things these people had to go through and the attitudes towards them at the time. It also felt extremely timely given the current situation in Ukraine and how it must feel to be displaced from your home and family.
While it covers very serious topics, it doesn't at any point feel too heavy a read. The characters were well developed, so much so that I even found myself warming to Nola much more than I had anticipated!
A really great read that I'm glad I took a chance on.
The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
slow-paced
2.0
I'm reading the Practical Magic books in chronological order with this being the second in the series.
I'll start with saying I loved Magic Lessons (I gave it 4 stars when I read it at the start of the year) so I had quite high expectations for this one. Unfortunately I was left underwhelmed and disappointed.
The Rules of Magic is set a few hundred years after Magic Lessons in the 1960s and follows the lives of Franny, Jet and Vincent - the children of Susanna Owens and direct descendants of the original Owens witch Maria Owens. With a little help from their aunt Isabelle, they discover who they are, what their heritage is and how they are cursed when it comes to matters of the heart.
As I said, I was really looking forward to this one but it was an extremely slow burn for me that failed to keep me engaged. I actually started this book in September and had to force myself to keep picking it up to get it finished. I didn't connect with any of the characters and found myself very bored throughout. This may seem like a harsh review but I genuinely had such high hopes after enjoying Magic Lessons so much.
I'm not going to let it put me off, and I absolutely plan to read the next in the series (the famous Practical Magic).
Don't be put off by my review, there are plenty of 5 star reviews of this one. Unfortunately it just wasn't the book for me!
I'll start with saying I loved Magic Lessons (I gave it 4 stars when I read it at the start of the year) so I had quite high expectations for this one. Unfortunately I was left underwhelmed and disappointed.
The Rules of Magic is set a few hundred years after Magic Lessons in the 1960s and follows the lives of Franny, Jet and Vincent - the children of Susanna Owens and direct descendants of the original Owens witch Maria Owens. With a little help from their aunt Isabelle, they discover who they are, what their heritage is and how they are cursed when it comes to matters of the heart.
As I said, I was really looking forward to this one but it was an extremely slow burn for me that failed to keep me engaged. I actually started this book in September and had to force myself to keep picking it up to get it finished. I didn't connect with any of the characters and found myself very bored throughout. This may seem like a harsh review but I genuinely had such high hopes after enjoying Magic Lessons so much.
I'm not going to let it put me off, and I absolutely plan to read the next in the series (the famous Practical Magic).
Don't be put off by my review, there are plenty of 5 star reviews of this one. Unfortunately it just wasn't the book for me!