A unique concept and a pretty good execution. I was happy for our main character alternative ending and enjoyed the tension along the way. I was somewhat disappointed by how cliche and predictable all the characters were, especially from TJR. However, if you want something silly, happy, and easy, this is a good option.

This book has a comedic, cosy and wholesome concept - but you can gather that without reading it. This is a short book without much adventure or romance, which makes it unique but quite boring. There were some fabulous descriptions of food and coffee which made me yearn to bake cakes and make hot drinks! I saw this book celebrated online, and decided to give it a go. Unfortunately I was disappointed. There simply was not much to this story. 

This is a difficult review to write as this book was simply okay. Initially I enjoyed our main character's unique, flawed, bullied, possibly neurodivergent mindstyle, but it quickly became repetitive. The mystery was generally predictable even when the main character omitted aspects of the narrative for suspense. The characters were two-dimensional; good or evil with little nuance. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable and comfortable read with some exciting moments. The little victories for the main character I particularly enjoyed. 

This book was incredibly fast paced and exciting. It sparked conversations amongst my friends and family as we discussed the bizarre and traumatic plot points, and what we would do in those situations. I started reading with a clear idea of who I believed should raise the child, and whilst the outcome was as I expected and hoped, the story still challenged my thoughts and I empathised with both perspectives. I think this is an important read for a lot of people, and a challenging topic to have discussed. However, the writing style was not very descriptive or enjoyable - reading essentially a document of "this happened then this happened then this happened" was very monotonous so I would advise caution if you enjoy artistic and stylistic writing. 

I have ignored the urge to read this book for a while after hearing mixed reviews and worrying about the distressing content. Whilst the content was depressing and emotive, I found that Eleanor's amusing and likely neurodivergent characterisation was too wonderful to miss out on. Other characters in the story are similarly lovable, and others are plain despicable. Whilst there was not much nuance to the characters, I loved the journey through Eleanor's mental health discoveries and was surprised to find the story had a lot more themes packed in it than that; love lost, family relationships, friendships, and independence.

This book was so excellent it had me reading the acknowledgements and circling reading discussion group questions desperate to talk to someone about. Gillian Flynn has an incredibly clever mind to characterise two people so psychologically disturbing! It was a brilliant choice to write both characters from the first person because it changes the readers perception of what is real and who to trust, as well as leaving narrative gaps - "what is this narrator missing out? why?" There was always more shock value when the reader may assume things have been resolved again. I couldn't recommend more, and I will be watching the adaptation soon!

Wow. This story was written so well I am shocked it is not an autobiography. Every sensation, every scene, felt so real. James and Rachel were such troubled and wonderful protagonists, relatable to any reader in their 20s. This book made me gasp without being a ridiculous or plot-driven story. It was emotive and deeply embedded in Irish political history. 

Ian Moore writes hilarious prose, and this was a highly enjoyable sequel to 'Death and Croissants' bringing back all my favourite characters, developing the romantic tension, and the taboo humour. However, with this story I was certainly more interested in the character relationships and less so in the mystery, causing me to zone out during chapters about the case. Similarly, there were too many characters involved in the murder for it to be a light-hearted read; it certainly requires a little concentration. The ending felt a little sudden too, meaning this was a little disappointing and inconclusive, perhaps there will be a third story? I am not sure I would read it, but that doesn't disregard the comedy and characters which made the story fun. 

I could NOT put this down. I am a sucker for weird books and this hit the spot - but definitely check the content warnings before you read! I have never experienced anything as extreme on paper. The language was captivating and our main character used totally unique hilarious metaphor to describe the world around her. The settings were cleverly manipulated into the central plot so everything had importance. The discussion of paranormal activity and mental health distress was totally activating - causing a lot of responses in my body and world (gasping, tearing up, chills.) Ultimately, I loved the pace, plot, and mind styles in this novel and would recommend to anyone brave enough! 

I will definitely be reading this to my children some day! Ray Bradbury yet again writes such delicate prose - his use of language is flawless! This story was magical and bright, teaching children about cultural tradition, even with the deathly themes. However, perhaps due to my own distraction I found the plot a little confusing, and I don't feel it had the same depth as his other classic. Definitely worth picking up for a magical story nonetheless.