These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong is a re-telling of Romeo and Juliette set in 1920's Shanghai with the addition of fantastical, almost sci-fi elements. The concept for this book is was first attracted it to me. Being set in China gave it a unique angle that I haven't seen done before. Within this book there were moments a beautiful description, particularly in the first half of the book. It was a very fast paced novel and I flew through it.
That said, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. I found it difficult to relate to the characters, and felt that the romance elements were not explored deeply enough, and so didnt seem realistic (not that they were particularly realistic in the original Romeo and Juliet). I was please to see some LGBTQ+ themes included, but again, I felt that they were too subltle, and would have liked more from those characters points of view.
Overall an enjoyable read.

This is possibly one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. The way that Emezi describes grief and shame and love in this book are stunningly lyrical. This book was very much character driven, and I would have liked just a little more plot. Very emotionally charged, and a book that I will definitely come back too.

Wow! This book blew me away. It ripped my heart out and I cried many, many times. I may well have been more affected by the content because I have 2 boys, one of which spent time in NICU. That said I think Mackintonsh covered a very difficult subject with grace and sensitivity. The first half of this book was extremely emotionally challenging. I also loved the second half, and hadn’t expected it (I’ll say no more because I don’t want to spoil it). I loved the characterisation and felt that the love for Dylan was beautifully written. I think this is one of the most under hyped books of the year, and has a firm place in my top 5. Beautiful and devastating in equal measure.

This book was ok. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more had I read it as a teenager. I’ve tried a few YA novels this year, and it clearly isn’t the genre for me. That said, I did think it was an interesting re-imagining of Beauty and the Beast. There were parts that had some good dry humour. However, it was all just too linear for me. I think the ending left it open to a better second book, but I don’t think I will continue the series.

This book had me hooked from the first chapter. A great thriller which kept me guessing until the end. I liked the imperfect characters, the shirt snappy chapters and the ending that I hadn’t seen coming. I felt that it was a little on the long side and yet the ending felt a bit rushed,but overall a very well constructed plot and I would definitely recommend.

This book was very very good. I loved the dual timelines. I loved the plot development. I loved Addie’s character. I loved the twists and turns. Schwab is an extremely talented author, and I will absolutely be looking to read through her other books after reading this.

The Exiles is a stunning and original piece of historical fiction. This novel pulls you into the depths of despair that convict women felt in the 1800's with such force you can almost smell the urine. I absolutley loved the stories of all four of the women in this novel. The transition between Evangeline and Hazel was unexpected, but worked amazingly well. This is the first novel that I have read focused on this area of history, and it has made me hungary for more. The plot pulls you along and the characters make you root for them. I will absolutley be looking to read all of Kline's works to date, and this book has earned this author a spot on my 'automatic buy' list for any novels she releases in the future. An absolute must read for fans of historical fiction, heartbreaking stories and female resiliance.

This is my third Stephen King book, and I think I have no concede to the fact that his writing style just isn’t for me. I liked the concept of this book, and I broadly liked the plot, but I just didn’t feel invested. I didn’t care what happened to the characters. I wasn’t keen to see what happened next at any point. It was just very meh for me.

It took me a while to get into this book. I found the writing style difficult at times. That said I though the story line was really interesting, completely different to anything I’ve read before. I absolutely loved the cultural references. British colonised Malaya is a subject I new absolutely nothing about, and so learning about the mix of cultures and the influence of Chinese culture in the Malaysia was fascinating. Great characters, great concept and well executed. I would definitely recommend this book.

I really liked this book. It was fast paced with nice character development and a plot that gave you just enough to keep wanting more. A very enjoyable easy read that I absolutely flew through.