readwatchdrinkcoffee's Reviews (382)

I’m a big fan of CL Taylor so I would have been excited for any new release by her. But when I saw that she was venturing into the young adult genre, I knew that I needed to read this straight away.

One of my favourite things about Taylor’s books is that she always describes her settings brilliantly. And that’s no exception here. Taylor sets up her story exceptionally well, enticing you with the island’s beauty but slowly building up threats to begin stepping up the pace.

As the island plays a dark game with its characters, there’s a sinisterly fun feel to it. What these characters are faced with isn’t an enjoyable experience, of course, but it’s an entertaining read that keeps your heart rate high.

Because of the story’s premise, I went into this book thinking that there was going to be an element of fantasy to it with the island playing on the guests’ fears, so I expected there to be a far-out explanation that took me on an exhilarating journey but that made little sense all the same. However, The Island is much more true-to-life than I was expecting and manages to explore some very personal themes along the way.

With such an addictive story, Taylor lures you in even more with likeable characters who are well-developed and relationships that are believable. It is obviously much lighter than her other books as it’s intended for a younger audience, but it’s still full to the brim with suspense and broaches some heavy themes that relate to its audience perfectly. While her target audience may be younger this time around, Taylor acknowledges that they still have to face some big issues that aren’t easy to deal with, exploring themes of trauma, grief, depression, and mental illness that will be sure to connect with it readers and open up some meaningful discussions.

The only aspect of the story that I didn’t particularly like was the use of two points of view – using a first-person narrative through Jessie and a third-person narrative through Danny. But, at the same time, I liked having Jessie’s personal narrative while Danny’s allowed for extra insight. The only reason I didn’t get on with this was because I felt that Danny’s chapters also needed more of a personal touch at times, so this narrative structure restricted his observations slightly.

Aside from that, The Island is a riveting page-turner that comes together brilliantly. Taylor successfully throws in many misdirections and will be sure to keep you guessing. Most of all, you’ll come away feeling close to the characters and hopeful that they can move on from the torment of The Island.

There are really only two words that can describe this book and they are both quoted on the cover: This is Going to Hurt is both painfully funny and painfully heartbreaking.

The book was originally published as a rebuke to Jeremy Hunt, the UK’s health secretary’s, remarks from a few years ago when there was a massive debate over junior doctor’s working conditions and pay. We’ve all heard nurses and doctors talk about how over-worked they are, but This is Going to Hurt really hits home about the realities of it. At one point, Kay highlights that the £3 an hour parking meter outside the hospital was earning more than he was.

A tale of brutal hours, poor pay, and a crippling shortage of staff, it is a revealing portrayal of the day-to-day life of a junior doctor that is a vital read in our current times. It’s not only interesting to learn about the effects that working so many hours has on their home lives, which Kay talks about with brutal honesty, but it’s also insightful to the see the effects of such a demanding job on the patients.

To give one example, Kay discusses a patient going undiagnosed when he had actually been dead for a few hours already. It really is shocking to learn about the pressure they are put under, but also the expectations they are forced to meet, of how much is expected of them in a job they have barely been trained in, whilst also having to balance the menial day-to-day tasks of being a trainee.

This is Going to Hurt is an easy book to read as Kay is naturally very funny. It’s always funny to hear about the comical stories that doctors witness on a daily basis – the foreign objects stuck in a suspecting hole or an injuring caused when doing something one probably shouldn’t – but there are so many sides to a doctor’s day that you couldn’t begin to imagine. Working in gynaecology, as well, many of the stories are funny, all of them are informative, but some of them are also deeply upsetting.

The book starts off with Kay explaining that he has since given up his role as a doctor after a devastating experience on the ward causes him to reconsider his future. It’s not until the end when we find out what happened to break his love for the job so it’s always building up to that revelation, but there are many heartbreaking scenes up until that point to take you on a real journey of the highs and lows before the final hit.

This is a book that speaks volumes. It doesn’t have to do anything but simply tell us the truth. After reading it, you will have so much more respect for the NHS – which is truly the UK’s best asset – and you will never take your GP for granted again. Doctors are real people too, and boy are they dedicated!

When you read lists about what books you must read in your lifetime, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is usually mentioned. So with the implication being that this is Christie's best, I was really looking forward to reading this one after loving many of her others.

Unfortunately, I went into this one knowing who the murderer was (yes, someone had massively spoiled this one for me!). But the great thing about Christie's books is that you instantly want to reread them after finishing them for the first time to see if you can spot the hints early on. So this felt like a second read for me in some ways, as I was keeping an eye out for all of the subtle clues.

Although, as it turns out, they weren't so subtle. Narrated by Dr James Sheppard who assists Poirot in the investigation, a certain phrase is picked out by Sheppard at the end that brings attention to a lapse in the timeline. I would love to know if I would have picked up on this not knowing who the murderer was, but it felt so obvious to me and like a complete giveaway to me, one that could have been avoided. But maybe that's just because I knew what to be looking out for, so it's a shame that I will never have that fresh approach to it.

Nevertheless, I was still intrigued to see how the murderer would be revealed and how Poirot would masterfully piece it together, as he always does. There are plenty of great twists along the way and I am forever impressed by how complex Christie makes her characters, ensuring that they all have an important part to play.

Personally, I much prefer the other Christie/Poirot books I have read so far, but I can still see why this one is classed as one of the best ever crime novels as Christie is truly a brilliant storyteller.

The Last Resort is an entertaining and modern mystery that's incredibly well written and full of suspense. But while I enjoyed the journey there, I was let down by the hasty ending.

Although you think this is going to be an Agatha Christie-type mystery with the island setting and amount of overflowing secrets, you quickly realise that it's not as straightforward as that. Instead, The Last Resort is very contemporary with a focus on developing technologies and many references to pop culture.

It's certainly a futuristic thriller, but the ideas are well thought out and described and never feel too extreme. I also really like the psychological elements. All of the characters are flawed and have something that they need to admit to, so there's always something to look forward to happening.

With two narratives running alongside each other, the main story centring on the seven characters on the island and the second being set twenty years prior, it was difficult to see how the stories would link together at first. It took me a while to really understand what was going in the subplot, but this also heightened my intrigue to find out how the stories would come together.

However, I was let down by the ending. After my excitement built and built and I was finding myself on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what was really going on as the islanders reached the big house, the revelations felt very underwhelming. The way that the story ends doesn't allow for much character arc, either. It's not that I didn't like the answers, but I just wanted more detail, history, and emotion.

I've read many bad reviews for this book but it really doesn't deserve such harsh comments. I agree that the idea is better than the outcome and that there's some lost potential, but Susi Holliday is a great writer, her ideas are original, and there's a lot of fun to be had along the way.

A complex mystery and atmospheric drama, The Survivors is a magnificently written book that lures you in with stunning imagery, warm characters, and a crime that you want to solve for the sake of the characters it is affecting the most.

Harper describes the setting beautifully, so much so that it almost felt alive. I could hear the rush of waves and feel the sand in my toes, and now I'm eager to escape to somewhere hot with blue seas and hopefully less drama. But because I felt the setting so authentically, this was a book that I wanted to stay with. I looked forward to picking it back up again and felt so comfy with the characters that I was sad to turn the final page.

The intriguing mystery is brilliantly written and weaved delicately into the story. It wasn't too heavy, although it was cleverly intricate, and the character-driven narrative kept me constantly engaged. I questioned many characters and theories, all of which are discussed as some point in the narrative, but I did not question the person it turned out to be. The mystery aspect of the book is a slow-burner, but the book doesn't feel the weight of the slow pace. Instead, you take your time to piece things together with the characters and hope that they can all find peace in uncovering the truth.

This is the first book that I have read by Jane Harper but I already have intentions to read more of her work soon. I can see her quickly become a new favourite author of mine.

Fast-paced and adrenaline-pumping, The Players is an immensely entertaining book that has all the sinister feels of a horror film but with an emotional motive right at its core.

The synopsis alone is enough to entice you with this book. It's dark and disturbing but also a lot of fun to try and figure out. With such an action-packed premise, it is obviously quite an intense thriller with fast developments, acts of brutality, and shocking twists, but it doesn't fall short on character development, either. It's even quite compelling at times as you warm to the supportive relationships that grow.

It's also a premise that gets you thinking: What would you do? Would you surrender everything to save somebody else? Or would you refuse to believe what you are being told to do? But because you get so invested in the story, there are a few things that I thought went in an odd direction. That's only because I would act differently in these circumstances, though. Or so I think I would, anyway. As the book narrates, how could you possibly know until you're faced with such a horrible decision for real?

The only thing I was left wanting more of was an emotional reaction at the end. It was obvious throughout that The Host was playing this game because they had faced a tragedy in their own life, so I wanted them to express this despair when their identity was finally revealed. Instead, the ending is wrapped up quite rapidly. Although I wasn't disappointed, it just missed that final punch for me to really love it.

Still, The Players is undoubtedly a book that everybody will be talking about soon, and it certainly deserves the attention that it's going to get. I'm definitely interested to see what else Darren O'Sullivan has written and would love to see a future adaptation of this book, too.

Although I have four Liane Moriarty books on my shelf, this is the first one of her books that I have read. And now, I can't wait to read the others.

What Alice Forgot is a heartwarming, heartwrenching, funny, and engaging. I laughed and I cried, and now that I have finished the book, I miss having Alice's narration in my head.

I absolutely loved her humour. Alice doesn't know how seriously to take her situation. In her head, she's ten years younger. Her jokes of being in a "custard-y" battle and the disappointment in her saggy boobs made me laugh out loud, but then the desperation in her will to remember what went so wrong in her life tugged at my heartstrings at the same time. Her story really gets you thinking about not only your current situation, but where you think you'll be in ten year's time.

Growing up is hard. Marriage is hard. Motherhood is hard. Even if they come easily to you, they change you in ways that you don't expect them to. You plan to be a good parent who does everything by the book and to raise children who don't answer back and eat everything on their plate, and you hope to be a good partner who holds it together and has the energy to get things done without complaint. But that isn't realistic, and no matter how good you are at being a mother or wife, life gives you too much to balance. You succumb to the messy bun, the last-minute rushes and half-arsed efforts, and find yourself going slightly loopy from the lack of adult conversation in a hectic world where you realise there's very little you can actually control.

Moriarty explores Alice's story brilliantly, making you want Alice to win Nick back and for them to go back to how they were, so young and in love, but also feeling the sting of the gradual realisation that life changes everybody. Elizabeth's story is also handled excellently, giving a sensitive but honest look at infertility and the contrasting viewpoints of somebody going through it and somebody commenting from the outside.

The three different narratives (Alice's first-hand perspective, Elizabeth's diary entries to her psychiatrist, and their grandmother's blog entries) work really well, too, seeing things predominantly from Alice's point of view with her lack of memory, but also getting hints at the truth through those around her to keep you intrigued and guessing what's happened.

This book really gripped me emotionally and has made me reflect on my own life and relationships, so it is certainly a story that's going to stick with me. I can't wait to read more from Liane Moriarty, too, which I will definitely be doing soon.

A story of friendship, heartbreak, missed opportunities and destinies reconsidered, One Day in December sounded like the perfect story for me. Any story about roads not taken and whether they are worth the longing or destined for regret instantly get my interest. And while One Day in December definitely didn't begin as I expected it to, I was completely invested in the characters and how their stories would play out.

It was a book that I didn't want to put down. I've read a lot of reviews that say this is a slow book, but I didn't feel that at all. I didn't skim over anything and was so eager to find out how it ended that I read it in two sittings, staying up until the early hours of the morning to do so.

There are a few cringey moments and the "love at first sight" concept certainly has to be taken with a pinch of salt, but I thought that the cheesier moments were easily forgivable. The only thing that stopped me from loving it was that I wish Jack were a nicer character. When he wasn't around Laurie, he was like a completely different person and acted like somebody who wouldn't be worth the heartache. But whenever the two were together, my heart flickered for them.

This book made me feel equal doses of warm, hopeful, and sad, and it was a lovely Christmas read that I would definitely recommend with a blanket and hot chocolate.

Coming Home to Glendale Hall is a heart-warming and cosy festive read about reconciliations, forgiveness, coming together with family, and the importance of community.

Full of family tensions, guilt, and misunderstandings, Coming Home to Glendale Hall is an easy book to relate to. As much as we look forward to some family time at Christmas, there are always conflicts or dreads, meaning that it's usually a time that emotions run high and conflicts arise. So we're all bound to have felt some of Beth's worries at times. But Christmas is also a time to let things lie, to make amends and to focus on what's important.

And that's why this is such a lovely book. So much in Beth's life has gone in a different direction to what she had imagined for herself, but sometimes things happen for a reason. Now, she is brought back to her family, to her old friends, and to her first love, as she is forced to face up to a world that she ran away from.

I loved her strength of character, but it was the mother-daughter relationships with her daughter and her mother that I found most engaging. Although I thought that the book had a slow start, I soon got into its warm festive spirit. With brilliant details of the hall, the town, and the snowy trail, I quickly likened to the characters just as much as I did the setting.

This would make a brilliant Christmas film. I would love to see the hall and the trail brought to life and to swoon over the hopeful romance. As cheesy and cliche as the romance is, it's exactly what you want from a festive story. Sometimes you need something light-hearted to cosy into winter with, and I could definitely do that with Beth, Drew and Izzy.

The epilogue put a huge smile on my face and I've already downloaded the next book in the series to see how their stories progress from here.

The Twelve Dates Of Christmas is everything you want from a festive read. There's mince pie baking, hot chocolates, snowy streets full of decorations, a cosy cafe that serves hazelnut lattes, carol singing, supportive friends, awkward parents, romantic dates (and plenty of them), and a patridge in a pear tree (literally).

The small town setting and festive atmosphere are both described brilliantly. Bayliss does such a good job of transporting you into her world that I spent half of my time daydreaming about how wanted to live here. The modern twist on the premise is a fantastic idea. However, I would have liked more of a focus on the dates themselves rather than an analysis of them the day after. But I loved that each date was so different and that the men all acted and treated Kate in different ways which gives readers a lot to think about.

Best of all, Kate is such a likeable character. She's funny, open-minded and kind, but painfully unlucky in love. While I'm happily married and would dread having to face the dating scene again, I was jealous of all the amazing drinks, yummy food, and festive experiences that Kate was getting to enjoy over Christmas. Sadly, her dates didn't always live up their surroundings.

Although I predicted what would happen from the very beginning, I was in no way disappointed by this book. Festive romances aren't about shocks and surprises, it's about the emotional journey you take getting there. And by the end, I have to admit that I shed a few tears. The conversations around Kate piecing her life together were really bittersweet, and it certainly left me with a smile on my face.