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605 reviews
The Last Passenger by Will Dean
4.0
Welcome aboard the wild ride that is The Atlantica. Settle in, unpack your luggage and get ready to set sail. Now, imagine waking up in your bedroom on this cruise of a lifetime to find that not only is your partner gone but you’re also the only person left on the boat, stranded at sea.
The Last Passenger is a fast paced pager turner with almost a dystopian feel, which I think is best described as a locked room thriller meets Squid Games. The book follows the protagonist Caz as the terrifying unimaginable events unfold and with the format of her first person POV it is hard not to feel every single ounce of anxiety she experiences.
A dark, claustrophobic and twisted book which looks at morality, human nature and just how far people will go when pushed. Full of tension, wave after wave of twists and so many moments that will leave the hairs on the back of your neck bolt upright. As for that ending, pure genius from Dean. A must read for those who like to be genuinely terrified but maybe not one to read if you’re planning to go on a cruise anytime soon.
Read If You Like
🚢Squid Games/Hunger Games vibes
🚢Locked room thrillers
🚢Jaw dropping endings
For Fans Of
🚢Catherine Ryan Howard
🚢Alice Feeney
🚢Lisa Jewell
Favourite Line
“The only private spaces we have are inside our own minds. The thoughts we conceal from one another. From ourselves.”
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/travelseatsreads">@TravelsEatsReads</a> for more
The Last Passenger is a fast paced pager turner with almost a dystopian feel, which I think is best described as a locked room thriller meets Squid Games. The book follows the protagonist Caz as the terrifying unimaginable events unfold and with the format of her first person POV it is hard not to feel every single ounce of anxiety she experiences.
A dark, claustrophobic and twisted book which looks at morality, human nature and just how far people will go when pushed. Full of tension, wave after wave of twists and so many moments that will leave the hairs on the back of your neck bolt upright. As for that ending, pure genius from Dean. A must read for those who like to be genuinely terrified but maybe not one to read if you’re planning to go on a cruise anytime soon.
Read If You Like
🚢Squid Games/Hunger Games vibes
🚢Locked room thrillers
🚢Jaw dropping endings
For Fans Of
🚢Catherine Ryan Howard
🚢Alice Feeney
🚢Lisa Jewell
Favourite Line
“The only private spaces we have are inside our own minds. The thoughts we conceal from one another. From ourselves.”
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/travelseatsreads">@TravelsEatsReads</a> for more
The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz
4.0
Another really enjoyable page-turner in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series. Plenty of little plot twists and the usual snipey sarcasm meant I had it read in a day.
My Hot Friend by Sophie White
5.0
My Hot Friend follows the lives of three very different women, Claire, Lexi & Joanne, who are each struggling with the ups & downs of female friendships in their thirties. Claire is struggling as she is lacking the support of her friends from the aptly named WhatsApp group, The Bitch Herd, following a recent mental health crisis. Lexi, whose life is slowly beginning to spiral out of control while so-called ride-or-die friend & podcast co-host Amanda seems oblivious. And finally, Joanne who is struggling with the life changes involved in becoming a new mother & what impact that has on her existing friendships.
The heart of the book is the relatability of its characters & indeed topics. Sophie manages to hold a mirror to female friendships & toxic relationships with astonishing accuracy. Every single reader will feel seen at some point within the pages of this book. And if you’re anything like me, maybe an uncomfortable amount 😂.
Sophie has given the reader a true & honest insight into the reality of the life of someone living with Bipolar Disorder, a mental illness which is still very much cloaked in stigma & silence. Through her depiction of manic episodes & indeed the shattering lows that come after, she left me with an encroaching palpable unease that lingered long after I finished the book.
White also shines a light on the true realities of early motherhood and isn’t afraid to show that it isn’t all cute insta friendly matching outfits and smiles.
Sophie flawlessly manages to create the perfect mix of entertaining yet informative and blends some brutally dark moments with sections which will have you in pain laughing.
Don’t let the cute cover & cheeky title fool you, this isn’t just another throwaway summer read but a beautifully charming, honest, hilarious & insightful look at female friendships, motherhood & mental health.
Read If You Like
☕Relatable characters, insightful honesty & laugh out loud moments
For Fans Of
☕The Aishling series & Louise O’Neill
Favourite Quote
☕“Why are all the sad songs and sad movies about couples breaking up? Friendship breakups were far more painful and complex.”
The heart of the book is the relatability of its characters & indeed topics. Sophie manages to hold a mirror to female friendships & toxic relationships with astonishing accuracy. Every single reader will feel seen at some point within the pages of this book. And if you’re anything like me, maybe an uncomfortable amount 😂.
Sophie has given the reader a true & honest insight into the reality of the life of someone living with Bipolar Disorder, a mental illness which is still very much cloaked in stigma & silence. Through her depiction of manic episodes & indeed the shattering lows that come after, she left me with an encroaching palpable unease that lingered long after I finished the book.
White also shines a light on the true realities of early motherhood and isn’t afraid to show that it isn’t all cute insta friendly matching outfits and smiles.
Sophie flawlessly manages to create the perfect mix of entertaining yet informative and blends some brutally dark moments with sections which will have you in pain laughing.
Don’t let the cute cover & cheeky title fool you, this isn’t just another throwaway summer read but a beautifully charming, honest, hilarious & insightful look at female friendships, motherhood & mental health.
Read If You Like
☕Relatable characters, insightful honesty & laugh out loud moments
For Fans Of
☕The Aishling series & Louise O’Neill
Favourite Quote
☕“Why are all the sad songs and sad movies about couples breaking up? Friendship breakups were far more painful and complex.”
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
3.0
Alice Feeney's writing is always fantastically dark and Daisy Darker is yet another book which lives up to both its name and Alice's usual gripping twisted style.
The book follows the Darker family as they reunite at the family home for their Grandmother's 80th birthday, for any normal family this would be a pleasant and joyous occasion. However, it's quite clear from the offset that the Darker family are no ordinary family and all is not as it seems. Indeed, this family is bursting with characters that you just love to hate and it's almost fun to see their panic and demise as the body count rises.
The story is told in alternate timelines with plenty of atmospheric gems to keep you suitably uneasy throughout. Those 80 ticking clocks really gave me the shivers and also can we take a moment for that eerie repetitive nursery rhyme!
There's no doubt that Feeney is a master of the plot twist and she sure does land one hell of a twist in Daisy Darker. Unfortunately for me, it was the twist in this book that I just didn't love. Maybe it's an 'it's me, not you' moment as it's a trope I can't stand but it dropped the book from a 4 star to a 3 star for me. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed this book and would still recommend it as a good read, I just didn’t love it as much as her others!
What I Loved
• Dark, atmospheric writing style
• The setting of the quirky Sea Glass House on the remote island was perfect
• Some great jaw dropping moments
• Audiobook narration was fantastic and really amplified the sinister feel
What I Didn’t Enjoy
• The plot twist
• Middle section lagged a little
Read If You Like
• Locked room mysteries
• Unreliable and unlikable characters
• Spooky reads
• Big twists
For Fans Of
• Sarah Pinborough
• Riley Sager
• JP Delaney
Favourite Quote
“Books saved me, and I ran away inside the stories I read as a child. They were the only place where I could run, and swim, and dance without fear of falling and not being able to get back up. Books were full of friends and adventures, whereas my real childhood was cold, and dark, and horribly lonely.”
The book follows the Darker family as they reunite at the family home for their Grandmother's 80th birthday, for any normal family this would be a pleasant and joyous occasion. However, it's quite clear from the offset that the Darker family are no ordinary family and all is not as it seems. Indeed, this family is bursting with characters that you just love to hate and it's almost fun to see their panic and demise as the body count rises.
The story is told in alternate timelines with plenty of atmospheric gems to keep you suitably uneasy throughout. Those 80 ticking clocks really gave me the shivers and also can we take a moment for that eerie repetitive nursery rhyme!
There's no doubt that Feeney is a master of the plot twist and she sure does land one hell of a twist in Daisy Darker. Unfortunately for me, it was the twist in this book that I just didn't love. Maybe it's an 'it's me, not you' moment as it's a trope I can't stand but it dropped the book from a 4 star to a 3 star for me. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed this book and would still recommend it as a good read, I just didn’t love it as much as her others!
What I Loved
• Dark, atmospheric writing style
• The setting of the quirky Sea Glass House on the remote island was perfect
• Some great jaw dropping moments
• Audiobook narration was fantastic and really amplified the sinister feel
What I Didn’t Enjoy
• The plot twist
• Middle section lagged a little
Read If You Like
• Locked room mysteries
• Unreliable and unlikable characters
• Spooky reads
• Big twists
For Fans Of
• Sarah Pinborough
• Riley Sager
• JP Delaney
Favourite Quote
“Books saved me, and I ran away inside the stories I read as a child. They were the only place where I could run, and swim, and dance without fear of falling and not being able to get back up. Books were full of friends and adventures, whereas my real childhood was cold, and dark, and horribly lonely.”
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
medium-paced
4.0
I really enjoyed The Final Girl Support Group so I was eager to read Hendrix’s new book How to Sell a Haunted House. The story follows brother and sister, Louise and Mark as they deal with the aftermath of their parents' sudden death. Why did they die, how do they move on and what will they do with the house and all the paraphernalia accumulated over the years?
Immediately within the first few moments the tension bubbles and the reader is left with a building sense of apprehension. Hendrix leaves so many questions unanswered that immediately my mind begins to wonder at what sinister events have just occurred and I become fearful at what terror was next.
Over the course of the story it becomes clear that Louise and Mark have had a fraught and tumultuous relationship growing up. What feels like normal sibling rivalry to begin with starts to feel more sinister and adds to the foreboding tension.
How to Sell a Haunted House has the feel of your classic vintage horror with lots of gory graphic details, movie style jump scares and a few interesting plot twists to keep you on your toes.
I listened to the audio and found it fantastic. I would recommend it even for Pupkin alone, one of the most terrifyingly perfect voices I’ve heard in quite a while.
It’s a hard one to review without giving too much away but to sum it up, there’s some absolutely terrifying moments, some surprisingly funny ones and the occasional moment which dragged on a little too long . Overall, an enjoyable read which certainly had me simultaneously terrified and compelled to read more.
What I Loved
Unbridled gore and horror
Amazing tension built from the beginning
Pupkin - Kakaweweeeee!
What I Didn’t Enjoy
Unnecessarily long - could cut 100ish pages easily
Hard to empathise with Laura and Mark at times
Read If You Like
Old school horror, gore and being terrified
For Fans Of
Riley Sager
Alex North
Graham Masterton
Favourite Quote
“Time only moves in one direction no matter how hard we wish it wasn’t so.”
3.5/5 star
Immediately within the first few moments the tension bubbles and the reader is left with a building sense of apprehension. Hendrix leaves so many questions unanswered that immediately my mind begins to wonder at what sinister events have just occurred and I become fearful at what terror was next.
Over the course of the story it becomes clear that Louise and Mark have had a fraught and tumultuous relationship growing up. What feels like normal sibling rivalry to begin with starts to feel more sinister and adds to the foreboding tension.
How to Sell a Haunted House has the feel of your classic vintage horror with lots of gory graphic details, movie style jump scares and a few interesting plot twists to keep you on your toes.
I listened to the audio and found it fantastic. I would recommend it even for Pupkin alone, one of the most terrifyingly perfect voices I’ve heard in quite a while.
It’s a hard one to review without giving too much away but to sum it up, there’s some absolutely terrifying moments, some surprisingly funny ones and the occasional moment which dragged on a little too long . Overall, an enjoyable read which certainly had me simultaneously terrified and compelled to read more.
What I Loved
Unbridled gore and horror
Amazing tension built from the beginning
Pupkin - Kakaweweeeee!
What I Didn’t Enjoy
Unnecessarily long - could cut 100ish pages easily
Hard to empathise with Laura and Mark at times
Read If You Like
Old school horror, gore and being terrified
For Fans Of
Riley Sager
Alex North
Graham Masterton
Favourite Quote
“Time only moves in one direction no matter how hard we wish it wasn’t so.”
3.5/5 star
Strong Female Character by Fern Brady
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Like most I saw Fern Brady on Taskmaster and immediately became besotted, I began following her on insta and soon learned of her upcoming memoir about her life growing up as a female with undiagnosed autism. I knew I needed to get my hands on her book but in all honesty I didn’t expect it to be one of my favourite reads of 2023! For those with a short attention span, TLDR - the book is epic, go buy it!
I’ve recommended this to one or two people who stated they’d probably not pick it up as they didn’t fancy reading a book that’s ‘just about autism’ and while yes autism is a HUGE proportion of this book, Fern tells her story in such a charming and brutally honest way that it’s almost impossible not to be engaged!
Fern experienced quite a tough time growing up and she holds nothing back about what it was like growing up in working class Scotland experiencing those struggles. She discusses many situations in which she felt she just didn’t fit in and that no one liked her and also details the thought processes she was experiencing in those scenarios.
In Fern’s later life some of her autistic traits seem in a way to give her a level of freedom to live her life in a way she feels is comfortable rather than follow society's (quite broken) stereotypical template however she’s first to admit how this too can be a daily struggle. She goes into depth about autistic meltdowns and honestly if you were to pick up this book even for just one chapter, read this (chapter 13).
The book is full of humour, and I will admit to laughing at some bits I probably shouldn’t have, but even in the darkest moments of Ferns retellings there's always a glimmer of her natural comedian (deliberate or not).
At times it is a tough read but I found it hugely insightful and so damn entertaining that I encourage everyone to pick it up.
Fern reads the audiobook herself which I think is by far the best way to experience this book as how she delivers each line is just sheer perfection.
“I was continually over-identifying with fiction to try and find a template for myself and my story”
Thank you to Brazen Books for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review!
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/travelseatsreads
I’ve recommended this to one or two people who stated they’d probably not pick it up as they didn’t fancy reading a book that’s ‘just about autism’ and while yes autism is a HUGE proportion of this book, Fern tells her story in such a charming and brutally honest way that it’s almost impossible not to be engaged!
Fern experienced quite a tough time growing up and she holds nothing back about what it was like growing up in working class Scotland experiencing those struggles. She discusses many situations in which she felt she just didn’t fit in and that no one liked her and also details the thought processes she was experiencing in those scenarios.
In Fern’s later life some of her autistic traits seem in a way to give her a level of freedom to live her life in a way she feels is comfortable rather than follow society's (quite broken) stereotypical template however she’s first to admit how this too can be a daily struggle. She goes into depth about autistic meltdowns and honestly if you were to pick up this book even for just one chapter, read this (chapter 13).
The book is full of humour, and I will admit to laughing at some bits I probably shouldn’t have, but even in the darkest moments of Ferns retellings there's always a glimmer of her natural comedian (deliberate or not).
At times it is a tough read but I found it hugely insightful and so damn entertaining that I encourage everyone to pick it up.
Fern reads the audiobook herself which I think is by far the best way to experience this book as how she delivers each line is just sheer perfection.
“I was continually over-identifying with fiction to try and find a template for myself and my story”
Thank you to Brazen Books for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review!
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/travelseatsreads
The Helpdesk by S.A. Dunphy
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Helpdesk follows the lives of James and Bella, who have one of those incredibly rare perfect blissful lives, all until James makes an error on his work PC and needs to call the company’s IT Helpdesk. Charlotte picks up the phone and soon all three of their lives begin to collide and all sense of control goes out the window.
The blurbs sets the reader up for a rollercoaster thriller about the dangers of hacking, cyber security and the effects it can have, however the book reads more like a slow-burn character study of Bella and an examination of the concepts of power and control. While not necessarily a bad change of trajectory, I do feel it leaves the reading expecting a different type of book which sets up certain expectations.
Shane writes in his afterword that he originally intended to follow the helpdesk plot line but felt the need to follow Bella’s narrative, while some readers will enjoy this, I would have preferred a deeper exploration of the helpdesk plot and less of Bella.
Overall, I think it was an enjoyable read, maybe just not what I was expecting. I think if readers go in with the expectation of a slower character driven suspense novel they will take far more enjoyment from it.
As a side note I’m a huge fan of Shane’s other writing and his gripping writing style does pop up throughout this book. For those who would like to explore more of Shane’s writing I’ve a list of books of his below which I could not put down!
What I Liked
•How Dunphy looks at the concepts of power, greed and control
•Multiple POVs which added tension
Read If You Like
•Unlikeable Messy Characters
•Character study based suspense
Must Read Books by Shane/SA Dunphy
•Boyle & Keneally Series
•Dave Dunnigan Series
•Stories From The Margins Series
•Wednesday’s Child
•Last Ditch House
•Hush, Little Baby
•Will Mummy Be Coming Back For Me?
The blurbs sets the reader up for a rollercoaster thriller about the dangers of hacking, cyber security and the effects it can have, however the book reads more like a slow-burn character study of Bella and an examination of the concepts of power and control. While not necessarily a bad change of trajectory, I do feel it leaves the reading expecting a different type of book which sets up certain expectations.
Shane writes in his afterword that he originally intended to follow the helpdesk plot line but felt the need to follow Bella’s narrative, while some readers will enjoy this, I would have preferred a deeper exploration of the helpdesk plot and less of Bella.
Overall, I think it was an enjoyable read, maybe just not what I was expecting. I think if readers go in with the expectation of a slower character driven suspense novel they will take far more enjoyment from it.
As a side note I’m a huge fan of Shane’s other writing and his gripping writing style does pop up throughout this book. For those who would like to explore more of Shane’s writing I’ve a list of books of his below which I could not put down!
What I Liked
•How Dunphy looks at the concepts of power, greed and control
•Multiple POVs which added tension
Read If You Like
•Unlikeable Messy Characters
•Character study based suspense
Must Read Books by Shane/SA Dunphy
•Boyle & Keneally Series
•Dave Dunnigan Series
•Stories From The Margins Series
•Wednesday’s Child
•Last Ditch House
•Hush, Little Baby
•Will Mummy Be Coming Back For Me?
The Drift by C.J. Tudor
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I’m a huge fan of Tudor’s other work so was excited to pick up The Drift, unfortunately what I didn’t realise was it’s more of an apocalyptic-zombie/pandemic style then her other books so while it was a good read, I just didn’t love it.
That being said this still has Tudor’s page-turner style and has plenty of wtf moments to keep you on the edge of your seat. Multiple messy and downright bizarre situations coupled with a slew of gory heart in your throat moments means this will definitely appeal to those who are fans of the apocalyptic horror/thriller genre.
Thank you to Michael Joseph & Penguin for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review!
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/travelseatsreads
That being said this still has Tudor’s page-turner style and has plenty of wtf moments to keep you on the edge of your seat. Multiple messy and downright bizarre situations coupled with a slew of gory heart in your throat moments means this will definitely appeal to those who are fans of the apocalyptic horror/thriller genre.
Thank you to Michael Joseph & Penguin for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review!
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/travelseatsreads