Take a photo of a barcode or cover
stuckinthebook's Reviews (248)
What I liked the most about this book was that it portrayed the modern woman’s life perfectly. There was no beating around the bush that Anna Hope wanted to create a story that shows the pressures of womanhood in these modern times.
If you are unaware, Expectation follows Hannah, Cate, and Lissa who are young, vibrant, and inseparable. They live on the edge of a common in East London, and their shared world is ablaze with art and activism, romance and revelry – and the promise of everything to come. They are electric. They are the best of friends.
Ten years on, they are not where they hoped to be. Amidst flailing careers and faltering marriages, each is hungry for what the others have. And each is wrestling with the same question: what does it take to lead a meaningful life?
Expectation honestly depicts female friendship and how it changes with age and milestones. All three women lead different lives but each woman has something in her life that she wishes she could change. One is desperate for a child, one is regretting ever having a child and the other is desperate to for that BIG break in her dream career. I think throughout the story, you feel for each character but you find yourself disagreeing and becoming angry with the choices they make.
It feels like each woman is having a mid-life crisis and is questioning whether the life they are leading was what they wanted. It was extremely refreshing to hear the problems that these women were facing are problems that we all face from time to time. Questioning whether you’re leading a meaningful life is something I suppose everyone questions at some point in their life and it was refreshing to see this from a female perspective.
Anna Hope does a fantastic job of playing with societal ‘expectations’ (excuse the pun) of what women need in their life to be considered ‘successful’ or ‘happy’. I think the title works fabulously in a bunch of different ways, whether that be society’s expectations or the expectations that each character holds when they are young and fresh out of uni with their whole lives ahead of them. Each character ‘expected’ their life to be completely different from the one they eventually end up leading but is that always a bad thing?
I enjoyed this book, but I feel like the first part of the book is a lot more enticing than the second part. I did find myself losing interest towards the end but I think that also may be because I started to dislike one of the characters in particular and reading her narrative did become unbearable. Apart from that, I did enjoy it and I enjoyed discussing it with Beth’s Book Club too as it was extremely poignant discussing the expectations that we as women feel we are bound to.
If you are unaware, Expectation follows Hannah, Cate, and Lissa who are young, vibrant, and inseparable. They live on the edge of a common in East London, and their shared world is ablaze with art and activism, romance and revelry – and the promise of everything to come. They are electric. They are the best of friends.
Ten years on, they are not where they hoped to be. Amidst flailing careers and faltering marriages, each is hungry for what the others have. And each is wrestling with the same question: what does it take to lead a meaningful life?
Expectation honestly depicts female friendship and how it changes with age and milestones. All three women lead different lives but each woman has something in her life that she wishes she could change. One is desperate for a child, one is regretting ever having a child and the other is desperate to for that BIG break in her dream career. I think throughout the story, you feel for each character but you find yourself disagreeing and becoming angry with the choices they make.
It feels like each woman is having a mid-life crisis and is questioning whether the life they are leading was what they wanted. It was extremely refreshing to hear the problems that these women were facing are problems that we all face from time to time. Questioning whether you’re leading a meaningful life is something I suppose everyone questions at some point in their life and it was refreshing to see this from a female perspective.
Anna Hope does a fantastic job of playing with societal ‘expectations’ (excuse the pun) of what women need in their life to be considered ‘successful’ or ‘happy’. I think the title works fabulously in a bunch of different ways, whether that be society’s expectations or the expectations that each character holds when they are young and fresh out of uni with their whole lives ahead of them. Each character ‘expected’ their life to be completely different from the one they eventually end up leading but is that always a bad thing?
I enjoyed this book, but I feel like the first part of the book is a lot more enticing than the second part. I did find myself losing interest towards the end but I think that also may be because I started to dislike one of the characters in particular and reading her narrative did become unbearable. Apart from that, I did enjoy it and I enjoyed discussing it with Beth’s Book Club too as it was extremely poignant discussing the expectations that we as women feel we are bound to.
I have to say that I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did. I read the first chapter and I was slightly confused with who was who and remembering the characters’ backstories. Yet, I think it was by the end of the first chapter that I fell in love with the story and its characters. Everything that happened after this just made me fall more and more in love.
Looking back, I’m not sure which story I enjoyed the most. They were all heartbreaking but lovely in their own special way and I’m so surprised I didn’t break down in floods of tears whilst reading!
If you are unaware of what this story is about, it is about a magical cafe in Tokyo that offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time. There is a certain set of rules with this cafe though in order to travel in time safely, with the most important one being you must drink the coffee before it gets cold if you want to return to the present.
The stories include a woman confronting the man who left her, a wife receiving a letter from her husband whose memory has been taken by early-onset Alzheimer’s, a waitress’ wish to see their sister one last time, and for a pregnant woman to meet the daughter she never got the chance to know. All heartbreaking but all utterly heart-warming at the same time.
I truly adored this book and it left me questioning if I had the chance, would I time-travel? I’m also kind of hoping that someone opens a replica cafe in Tokyo to celebrate the book! All that’s left to mention is if you could travel back in time, would you?
Looking back, I’m not sure which story I enjoyed the most. They were all heartbreaking but lovely in their own special way and I’m so surprised I didn’t break down in floods of tears whilst reading!
If you are unaware of what this story is about, it is about a magical cafe in Tokyo that offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time. There is a certain set of rules with this cafe though in order to travel in time safely, with the most important one being you must drink the coffee before it gets cold if you want to return to the present.
The stories include a woman confronting the man who left her, a wife receiving a letter from her husband whose memory has been taken by early-onset Alzheimer’s, a waitress’ wish to see their sister one last time, and for a pregnant woman to meet the daughter she never got the chance to know. All heartbreaking but all utterly heart-warming at the same time.
I truly adored this book and it left me questioning if I had the chance, would I time-travel? I’m also kind of hoping that someone opens a replica cafe in Tokyo to celebrate the book! All that’s left to mention is if you could travel back in time, would you?
If this is the first time hearing about this book, Fifty Fifty is about two sisters who are BOTH on trial for the murder of their father. Each thinks each other has killed him. But one is a LIAR.
This was my first time reading a Steve Cavanagh novel, but I had heard extremely great things about his other novel, ‘Th1rte3n’. This book had everything a good thriller needs. Intertwining stories. Different narratives. Twists. Turns. Suspense.
One thing I loved about this book was we get a narrative from the killer herself but Steve Cavanagh does an incredible job of keeping her identity under wraps right until the VERY end. That’s what I love so much about a good thriller, you’re kept guessing right until the final pages and this was certainly the case with Fifty Fifty.
Cavanagh also did a great job of giving us a perspective from a female lawyer within the industry. Kate’s perspective and the experience was one of my favourites throughout the novel because all the odds were against her. She starts the book by being controlled by a horrible, sexist, and pervy boss. Cavanagh was clever and brave to address the sexual abuse and biased behavior within the legal system.
I loved both the lawyers (even though they were fighting on different sides) because they each had their quirks but worked extremely well together.
There wasn’t anything I didn’t particularly not enjoy about this book because like I said before, I thought it included everything a good thriller should, but when my boyfriend asked me if it was a 5-star, I had to think about it. And for me, if I have to question whether a book deserved 5 stars, then it probably didn’t. However, my opinion might change once we discuss it with the book club because those discussions either go one of two ways; I either end up loving it more or loving it less!
Safe to say though, I have added a few of Steve Cavanagh’s other books to my TBR!
This was my first time reading a Steve Cavanagh novel, but I had heard extremely great things about his other novel, ‘Th1rte3n’. This book had everything a good thriller needs. Intertwining stories. Different narratives. Twists. Turns. Suspense.
One thing I loved about this book was we get a narrative from the killer herself but Steve Cavanagh does an incredible job of keeping her identity under wraps right until the VERY end. That’s what I love so much about a good thriller, you’re kept guessing right until the final pages and this was certainly the case with Fifty Fifty.
Cavanagh also did a great job of giving us a perspective from a female lawyer within the industry. Kate’s perspective and the experience was one of my favourites throughout the novel because all the odds were against her. She starts the book by being controlled by a horrible, sexist, and pervy boss. Cavanagh was clever and brave to address the sexual abuse and biased behavior within the legal system.
I loved both the lawyers (even though they were fighting on different sides) because they each had their quirks but worked extremely well together.
There wasn’t anything I didn’t particularly not enjoy about this book because like I said before, I thought it included everything a good thriller should, but when my boyfriend asked me if it was a 5-star, I had to think about it. And for me, if I have to question whether a book deserved 5 stars, then it probably didn’t. However, my opinion might change once we discuss it with the book club because those discussions either go one of two ways; I either end up loving it more or loving it less!
Safe to say though, I have added a few of Steve Cavanagh’s other books to my TBR!
There is nothing I love more than a good police drama but this is the story of the man who arrested some HUGE names which makes it even more special.
Complete with real police reports and Pilcher’s witty humour, Bent Coppers is the perfect read for those who want to experience what it was like being a policeman in the 1960s, when the force was corrupt and had its fair share of cover-ups.
Complete with real police reports and Pilcher’s witty humour, Bent Coppers is the perfect read for those who want to experience what it was like being a policeman in the 1960s, when the force was corrupt and had its fair share of cover-ups.
First of all, this book is the perfect little book companion. Being only 176 pages long, you can literally devour this book in one sitting and carry it around with you should you need to.
Themes within in the book vary from intersectionality and becoming an economic ally, to tips on how you can be an ally within your social circles, your workplace, at home and in your community.
The chapter that really stood out for me was Sophie’s discussion of what racism looks like now. Sophie highlights how ‘modern-day racism is less black face and racial slurs and more insidious, coded and systemic discrimination.’ I think this is such a potent topic because some may think that just because racial slurs are used less in today’s society, that racism no longer exists. But as Sophie points out, racists now have to find different ways to be racist, and that usually takes form as institutional and structural racism.
I would consider this book as essential reading for those (like myself) who are privileged enough to ‘go through life without thinking about, or being made aware of their race’; who want to help make a difference but feel like they don’t know where to start.
Sophie lists some incredible ways that you can help make a change in how marginalised people are treated/viewed, including choosing to buy from BIPOC creators, making donations, demanding more from brands who have failed to make change and keeping the conversation going.
I agree with Sophie that the fight for racial equality is most definitely a marathon and not a sprint, and that ‘conversations around race and racial injustice can churn up a lot of messy feelings’, and that there may be times where we feel uncomfortable/confused but that’s GOOD. Messy feelings prove that we are playing our part in making a change.
Themes within in the book vary from intersectionality and becoming an economic ally, to tips on how you can be an ally within your social circles, your workplace, at home and in your community.
The chapter that really stood out for me was Sophie’s discussion of what racism looks like now. Sophie highlights how ‘modern-day racism is less black face and racial slurs and more insidious, coded and systemic discrimination.’ I think this is such a potent topic because some may think that just because racial slurs are used less in today’s society, that racism no longer exists. But as Sophie points out, racists now have to find different ways to be racist, and that usually takes form as institutional and structural racism.
I would consider this book as essential reading for those (like myself) who are privileged enough to ‘go through life without thinking about, or being made aware of their race’; who want to help make a difference but feel like they don’t know where to start.
Sophie lists some incredible ways that you can help make a change in how marginalised people are treated/viewed, including choosing to buy from BIPOC creators, making donations, demanding more from brands who have failed to make change and keeping the conversation going.
I agree with Sophie that the fight for racial equality is most definitely a marathon and not a sprint, and that ‘conversations around race and racial injustice can churn up a lot of messy feelings’, and that there may be times where we feel uncomfortable/confused but that’s GOOD. Messy feelings prove that we are playing our part in making a change.
You know me, I love a good thriller and this one didn’t disappoint. What I loved most about this book was the setting. From the mountains of the French Alps to a ski lodge just north of Lake Bled, Newman does a fantastic job of making us feel right there, in the middle of all the drama.
I think I'm not alone in saying that classics, especially those over 300 pages are daunting. Most early novelists LOVE to add so much detail to their stories that sometimes, chapters in classic novels can grow tiresome and confusing. Yet I have to say, even though The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (The Tenant) is over 500 pages, I had no problems at all with the language or the story. I understood everything that was happening and every time I opened the book up, I slid perfectly back into the story.
Now, even though I love classics, reading The Tenant so easily was new to me and I found myself being able to read huge chunks of the book instead of little bits here and there. I found the story and the characters completely encapsulating and I enjoyed every second of it.
There were certainly moments throughout this book where I felt I could hear moments of Anne’s personality shining through. There were so many subtle hints about how Anne truly felt about the different treatment of women compared to men and even with her character creation, Helen Graham is a brilliant heroine that takes no sh*t from the men who surround her. Helen Graham is now one of my favourite female characters and it’s so refreshing to see such a strong-willed character like Helen, featured in a novel which was written way before the fight for women’s suffrage. I know that the fight for women’s rights didn’t begin with the Suffragette’s and it certainly didn’t end there either, but what is so great to hear is that there were women, like Anne, who were not afraid to voice their opinions on the treatment of women.
I certainly enjoyed every moment of this book and it is one that will surely stick in my mind forever. I look forward to hopefully reading more of Anne’s work and hopefully reading more about her because for her to remain known as the ‘forgotten’ Bronte sister would be truly heartbreaking.
Now, even though I love classics, reading The Tenant so easily was new to me and I found myself being able to read huge chunks of the book instead of little bits here and there. I found the story and the characters completely encapsulating and I enjoyed every second of it.
There were certainly moments throughout this book where I felt I could hear moments of Anne’s personality shining through. There were so many subtle hints about how Anne truly felt about the different treatment of women compared to men and even with her character creation, Helen Graham is a brilliant heroine that takes no sh*t from the men who surround her. Helen Graham is now one of my favourite female characters and it’s so refreshing to see such a strong-willed character like Helen, featured in a novel which was written way before the fight for women’s suffrage. I know that the fight for women’s rights didn’t begin with the Suffragette’s and it certainly didn’t end there either, but what is so great to hear is that there were women, like Anne, who were not afraid to voice their opinions on the treatment of women.
I certainly enjoyed every moment of this book and it is one that will surely stick in my mind forever. I look forward to hopefully reading more of Anne’s work and hopefully reading more about her because for her to remain known as the ‘forgotten’ Bronte sister would be truly heartbreaking.
So I picked this book up after getting some pretty bad news and I did think to myself whether I’d be able to concentrate on the book whilst my head had fallen off. I took a weekend off social media (something I do every weekend now) and dedicated it to doing some feel-good stuff.
Yet this book is far from feel-good so it probably wasn’t the best pick. If you don’t know After The End is about a couple who have a terminally ill son who need to make a BIG decision regarding his care. The book is slightly unusual in the fact that we follow the two main characters, Max and Pip, in the future and see how the court decision impacted their relationship. The concept was really strange and it took me a while to understand what was happening but, I think Clare Mackintosh did a wonderful job of exploring how parents’ lives are changed/affected when you have a disabled/seriously ill child.
However...I don’t think I was ever really hooked on the story and that could have been because I was reading it at the wrong time. I would definitely say that After The End wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read but I enjoyed the narrative and I had never really read a story like this before. I also think it was incredibly brave of Clare to write this book based on her personal experience. It must have been hard for her during that time, and to relive that experience whilst writing this book must have been even harder, yet also a kind of healing process for her?
Yet this book is far from feel-good so it probably wasn’t the best pick. If you don’t know After The End is about a couple who have a terminally ill son who need to make a BIG decision regarding his care. The book is slightly unusual in the fact that we follow the two main characters, Max and Pip, in the future and see how the court decision impacted their relationship. The concept was really strange and it took me a while to understand what was happening but, I think Clare Mackintosh did a wonderful job of exploring how parents’ lives are changed/affected when you have a disabled/seriously ill child.
However...I don’t think I was ever really hooked on the story and that could have been because I was reading it at the wrong time. I would definitely say that After The End wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read but I enjoyed the narrative and I had never really read a story like this before. I also think it was incredibly brave of Clare to write this book based on her personal experience. It must have been hard for her during that time, and to relive that experience whilst writing this book must have been even harder, yet also a kind of healing process for her?
Now, fantasy and especially science-fiction isn’t usually my kind of thing. I have read 1984 before and I really struggled with the story and spent most of the book well and truly confused. So I knew going into this book, I would probably struggle but I wanted to test out something outside of my comfort zone.
So no surprises here that this book was not for me. I really liked how it looked into the dehumanising aspects of scientific progress and was quite ahead of its time being written pre-WW2. The book was especially interesting in how it focused on people relying on drugs for happiness and how there were still social rankings, even during a time when people were born from test tubes.
I found it hard to stay motivated to read this book and even by the end of the book, I was none the wiser. There wasn’t a lot of back story to how the world ended up like it did in Brave New World and there were some unusual and random scenes where I had absolutely no idea what was going on.
This book wasn’t for me but I may still end up watching the TV series to see if I enjoy that more than the book.
So no surprises here that this book was not for me. I really liked how it looked into the dehumanising aspects of scientific progress and was quite ahead of its time being written pre-WW2. The book was especially interesting in how it focused on people relying on drugs for happiness and how there were still social rankings, even during a time when people were born from test tubes.
I found it hard to stay motivated to read this book and even by the end of the book, I was none the wiser. There wasn’t a lot of back story to how the world ended up like it did in Brave New World and there were some unusual and random scenes where I had absolutely no idea what was going on.
This book wasn’t for me but I may still end up watching the TV series to see if I enjoy that more than the book.
Salvation Station has everything a good crime thriller should have. Shocking moments? Check. Gripping storyline? Check. Short and quick chapter to keep the pace of the book quick? Check.
If you haven’t heard about this book, it follows female police captain Linda Turner, who is haunted by the murders of two small children and their pastor father, and becomes obsessed with solving the harrowing case. She finds herself wrapped up in a mission to expose a fraudulent religious organization and an unrepentant killer. Whilst televangelist Reverend Williams is swept up in his newfound success and plans for his wedding, Captain Turner can only hope that she and her team will catch the Hansens’ cunning killer before more bodies surface.
I really loved that there were lots of entwining stories within this book as storylines like that really add to the tension. I also liked how the reader knew what the characters in the book didn’t and we are left to witness everything unfold…
However, I must note that I didn’t really agree with the final chapter as it focused on capital punishment. I know that capital punishment sparks a lot of debate and personally, this final chapter was probably the most shocking thing about the book. I personally don’t think this chapter was needed but maybe you will think differently?
Overall a fantastic crime thriller that really had me gripped and I would strongly recommend this book if you’re looking for a quick and exciting read.
If you haven’t heard about this book, it follows female police captain Linda Turner, who is haunted by the murders of two small children and their pastor father, and becomes obsessed with solving the harrowing case. She finds herself wrapped up in a mission to expose a fraudulent religious organization and an unrepentant killer. Whilst televangelist Reverend Williams is swept up in his newfound success and plans for his wedding, Captain Turner can only hope that she and her team will catch the Hansens’ cunning killer before more bodies surface.
I really loved that there were lots of entwining stories within this book as storylines like that really add to the tension. I also liked how the reader knew what the characters in the book didn’t and we are left to witness everything unfold…
However, I must note that I didn’t really agree with the final chapter as it focused on capital punishment. I know that capital punishment sparks a lot of debate and personally, this final chapter was probably the most shocking thing about the book. I personally don’t think this chapter was needed but maybe you will think differently?
Overall a fantastic crime thriller that really had me gripped and I would strongly recommend this book if you’re looking for a quick and exciting read.