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bookbeforeuleap's Reviews (863)
This is the story of Lenna, an over worked and exhausted young woman, living in London, who has not dealt with her grief over loosing her sister and her grandmother, Eleanor, who is always helping others and getting involved in the community. She is lonely and wants to find love but has limited options where she lives. Cue a life swap!
I first requested this on net galley after reading (And loving) the flat share by the same author. After reading 5% I knew I needed to read a physical copy to be able to enjoy and do it the most justice so I pre-ordered my copy and waited.
It arrived on publication day and was in my possession for less than 12 hours before I finished it. I LOVED IT!
I was really worried that this wouldn’t live up to my expectations from the flatshare and I was still unsure to start with, the story was good and the characters were strong but it didn’t seem to have the humour that I loved from the flat share but as soon as Arthur starts interacting with the characters, there it was! From that moment I absolutely fell in love with the book!
I really enjoying thinking about all the people that are behind the doors in flats in London and that maybe sometimes they just need a little understanding and someone to take the time to see them properly.
My favourite idea by far was Lenna befriending the grumpy neighbour next door and I could have read a whole book just in their friendship!!
Thank you so much Beth for another absolutely fantastic book.
I first requested this on net galley after reading (And loving) the flat share by the same author. After reading 5% I knew I needed to read a physical copy to be able to enjoy and do it the most justice so I pre-ordered my copy and waited.
It arrived on publication day and was in my possession for less than 12 hours before I finished it. I LOVED IT!
I was really worried that this wouldn’t live up to my expectations from the flatshare and I was still unsure to start with, the story was good and the characters were strong but it didn’t seem to have the humour that I loved from the flat share but as soon as Arthur starts interacting with the characters, there it was! From that moment I absolutely fell in love with the book!
I really enjoying thinking about all the people that are behind the doors in flats in London and that maybe sometimes they just need a little understanding and someone to take the time to see them properly.
My favourite idea by far was Lenna befriending the grumpy neighbour next door and I could have read a whole book just in their friendship!!
Thank you so much Beth for another absolutely fantastic book.
This book is told from several different perspectives of residents from a tower block before and after a life changing event.
This book was so easy to read, despite the tough subject matter, I finished it a single day! This book had several main characters who all had a clear narrative and so changing between them was natural and easy to follow.
My favourite character was definitely Elvis but they were all strong and the flaws they each revealed made the book much more realistic.
I really hope this makes the women’s prize short list along with Hamnet and GWO!
This book was so easy to read, despite the tough subject matter, I finished it a single day! This book had several main characters who all had a clear narrative and so changing between them was natural and easy to follow.
My favourite character was definitely Elvis but they were all strong and the flaws they each revealed made the book much more realistic.
I really hope this makes the women’s prize short list along with Hamnet and GWO!
Another great treat from Angela Marsons!
If you are looking for a kick as female detective, who takes no nonsense and has a brilliant bunch of backup characters that you can get 100% get invested in, then this is the crime series for you.
I absolutely love the Kim Stone series and this book did not disappoint, I enjoyed the focus on a topic not widely covered in crime books (not saying what as I don't want to give any spoilers!) and liked seeing a bit more to Bryant's Character and his history.
I cant wait for the physical copy to come out so I can add it to my collection.
If you are looking for a kick as female detective, who takes no nonsense and has a brilliant bunch of backup characters that you can get 100% get invested in, then this is the crime series for you.
I absolutely love the Kim Stone series and this book did not disappoint, I enjoyed the focus on a topic not widely covered in crime books (not saying what as I don't want to give any spoilers!) and liked seeing a bit more to Bryant's Character and his history.
I cant wait for the physical copy to come out so I can add it to my collection.
This is the story of a couple who have lost their way and haven't spoken in six months. It starts with a tragic incident which we don't get much information about and then develops through the husband sharing their history with glimpses of the present thrown in.
This is a really moving debut by Abbie Greaves. It is written so beautifully and is deeply moving.
That being said, I found this book a little slow paced, it is very character driven but ultimately worth it in the end. If you liked three things about Elsie then you will enjoy this book.
This is a really moving debut by Abbie Greaves. It is written so beautifully and is deeply moving.
That being said, I found this book a little slow paced, it is very character driven but ultimately worth it in the end. If you liked three things about Elsie then you will enjoy this book.
This was the story of the ripple effect, how each of our actions, even the simplest of ones like giving up your seat on a bus can impact the lives of others.
It’s mainly about Florence and her trying to figure out a mystery but in doing so we are exposed her past and to the sadness of ageing, loneliness, losing loved ones and memory loss.
I figured out one of the major plot twists qithin 20 pages but that didn’t ruin the book for me in anyway and some of the people in the buddy read didn’t see it coming at all so I think it depends on your thought process as a reader.
It’s mainly about Florence and her trying to figure out a mystery but in doing so we are exposed her past and to the sadness of ageing, loneliness, losing loved ones and memory loss.
I figured out one of the major plot twists qithin 20 pages but that didn’t ruin the book for me in anyway and some of the people in the buddy read didn’t see it coming at all so I think it depends on your thought process as a reader.
Set in a small town in America we are introduced to multiple characters who have all been affected by a terrible accident 30 years ago. It is a story of broken people, secrets, family, murder and demonstrates how far people will go for those they love.
This is a wholly engrossing character driven book that I definitely won't forget. Rarely do I get so involved in characters that I actually want to be able to step into the pages to help them but I completely fell for Duchess Day Radley, Outlaw, and was heartbroken for her, I just wanted to scoop her into my arms (even though she would have hated that!).
At 464 pages I though this might be a book I read over a few days but once I picked it up, I could not put it down and read the whole thing within 24 hours. The pacing of the book is a perfect blend of fast moving with detailed descriptions of how events are unfolding. I was not prepared for the emotional impact this book has had on me so much so I am struggling to put into words how great this book is as I don’t feel anything, I can say will do it justice.
If you get the chance please read this book, you won’t regret it!
This is a wholly engrossing character driven book that I definitely won't forget. Rarely do I get so involved in characters that I actually want to be able to step into the pages to help them but I completely fell for Duchess Day Radley, Outlaw, and was heartbroken for her, I just wanted to scoop her into my arms (even though she would have hated that!).
At 464 pages I though this might be a book I read over a few days but once I picked it up, I could not put it down and read the whole thing within 24 hours. The pacing of the book is a perfect blend of fast moving with detailed descriptions of how events are unfolding. I was not prepared for the emotional impact this book has had on me so much so I am struggling to put into words how great this book is as I don’t feel anything, I can say will do it justice.
If you get the chance please read this book, you won’t regret it!
The first two thirds of this book were solidly written and very funny, you can completely hear Webb’s humour coming through. I was completely invested in the characters and interested to see how the plot developed.
It took a small twist I was not expecting but could have got on board with had the end been written right but then things just went nuts!! It’s was like the author though ‘this is too much romance I need to add some action so let’s throw a karate chop, a car chase and the M15 in there, that should even things out’
I wouldn’t say I normally pickup books with time travel in then but this is actually the third one I have read this year and I do actually enjoy it as an element - even if I can’t always get my head around it. It was well written in this book up until the last two pages and then was just ridiculous!
At one point in the book Webb describes what a reader needs from a book to be able to get on board, it’s a perfect description which means he knows what we, as readers, need and yet, in my opinion, completely disregarded it.
Overall really enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book but felt let down by the ending, it wasn’t a bad ending it just didn’t match the start.
It is a loose based retelling of beauty and the beast so I was pretty much guaranteed to like it but I have to admit it took me a while to get into with all the world building but I definitely get why that’s necessary and the last 100 blew me away.
I could completely visualise the characters and became completely invested in the outcome. I definitely recommend this for anyone who wants to escape for a while.
I could completely visualise the characters and became completely invested in the outcome. I definitely recommend this for anyone who wants to escape for a while.