bookswithlydscl's Reviews (639)

3.75*

This is a humourous and touching family saga of the drama that unfolds when 20 year old Témì announces at her father's funeral that she is going to move to Lagos to get her 'bumbum' enhanced. What follows is an unfolding of family secrets and lies and the realisation that Témì might be the sanest member of her family.

I was intrigued by the premise of this story, given the pressure on women to look a certain way predominantly due to the pressure of social media and influencers and I wanted to read about this from the perspective of a country and culture different to my own (this book is set in Nigeria). 

I really enjoyed being put into the middle of this chaotic situation. The narrative style really gave a sense of what it is to be a part of a large and intertwined family and from everything that I've got to know about Nigerian culture from friends and colleagues, it really captured that aspect of community that is so hugely important. The use of Nigerian Language and dialect interspersed with English was also a great way to add to this too.

There are a number of POVs in this story which can get confusing, but it means that it reads like what I expect it would be like being in the middle of that situation - multiple voices all shouting to be able to give their perspective and view on the situation, that concern about what others will think and how to uphold family honour. 

In amongst these voices commenting on Témì's decision we also get backstory to the other women in her family and get to understand why the family dynamic is what it is and that is what made the story so intriguing. We get the humour from the desire to get a BBL but we get the heart from what has happened in the past and how it can be reconciled in the present.
  
I read this predominantly as an ebook but also listened to the audiobook which I felt really brought the words, women, humour and culture to life and would highly recommend it as an alternative option for experiencing this book. I also felt that the 2nd person perspective worked better in audio format for me.

It's a relatively short and fast read that touches on so many important topics including body dysmorphia and body image but keeps humour and heart at its centre. The narrative style may not work for everyone and it was a little confusing at times but I enjoyed it and liked what I had to say and the way that it said it.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK and Netgalley for an eArc of "Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

4.5*
What a lovely book. I really enjoy Sally Page's books and this had a similar story, tempo and vibe.
A lovely look at loss, memory, and regret with one of my favourite tropes - found/chosen family.

I haven't read The Passenger so I have no connection to the story or characters so for me this was essentially a blank slate and I enjoyed it. I listened to the audiobook as I saw Julia Whelan was one of the narrators and I adore her! Both narrators were excellent and I really liked it being purely casefiles made up of interviews. 
There's a story but this is more a deep dive into mathematics, mental health and philosophical musings around life.

A stunning debut - dark, disturbing and deeply uncomfortable in many ways. Highly recommended literary suspense with a cult at its heart, exploring exploitative power, coercive control and group think with devastating consequences.

This is the best Catherine Cooper I've read, a little surprising for me as it's her debut and I hadn't realised it (I assumed The Chateau was).
This was one of the more intriguing set ups for a destination thriller and I liked how things clicked at various points for me as a reader.
A satisfying read, quick and well paced and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This book spoke to my heart. A slow paced but quick read.

OK so Carrie won me over after a very rocky start and in the interconnected universe of the Taylor Jenkins Reid historical fiction novels I think she's ranked two (which the Carrie we see for 3/4 of the book wouldn't be happy with!)

It took me a while to warm up to her, especially knowing her as the affair partner from Malibu Rising but the character work done by TJR is fantastic, probably the best of the 4 books and little by little you become really invested in seeing Carrie succeed - in whatever way that means to her.

Another success from TJR even if it makes me feel old to categorise this as HF when it's set in the 90s!

Loved this collection of short stories - a mix of horror, thriller and meditations on what it is to age

- Two Talented Bastids - 4.5* 
- The Fifth Step - 4.75* - short, sharp, shocking, did exactly what it needed and told a complete story in 10 pages. 
- Willie The Weird - 4.75* - the payoff of this story, one sentence, one small description makes the whole thing and the evidence is given to you throughout the whole story. So good. 
- Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream - 3.5* - great idea but too long and too repetitive. Either should have been a standalone novella or 50-75 pages shorter - loved the first and final third
- Finn - 4* 
- Slide Inn Road 4* 
- Red Screen - 4.5* I feel like these short ones have packed the most punch and have the darker implications. 
- The Turbulence Expert - 4* 
- Laurie - Initial rating 3.75* - I liked it but maybe just didn't get it. It was dark in terms of what happened to Don and Lloyd's near miss but there was no twist or suckerpunch final note...was Laurie meant to be Marian?
Later - Reading more seems like it is just meant to be a sweet story and a slow and reflective look at getting older, and starting again after loss which it accomplishes so 4*. 
- Rattlesnakes - 4* 
- The dreamers - 3.5* - I wanted more, didn't feel quite as satisfying as some of the others 
- The Answer Man - 4.5* - like Laurie and connecting with a lot of the others this is another look at life, love and loss and what it means to age.

Lovely writing and I can see why it's a generally loved book. Glad to have finally read it and a definite 4* read but not one that will have a huge impact on me long term.

Didn't like the main character- just felt juvenile and like every male trait I dislike.