totallytales's Reviews (1.9k)

Three friends have kept a secret for 30 years, now uncontrollable events threaten to reveal their terrible act... should they stop at nothing to keep their secret buried or has the time arrived for them to break their promise?

The premise of this novel is intriguing and the characters are well written with distinct personalities making it easy to love or hate them from the start. Although it is a slow-burner, curiosity kept me turning the pages and the twists make it worthwhile, just when you think you have it all figured out Driscoll surprises you by revealing more shocking revelations! Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware's The Lying Game and Michele Campbell's She Was the Quiet One.

Thanks to EDPR for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.

Aggie and Rosie used to be friends but haven't spoken in 15 years (due to a man and a misunderstanding!). When Aggie learns Rosie has been deployed to Kuwait as the Army Met Officer, she knows her best friends needs her now more than ever, so writes her a letter. Soon the pair begin exchanging their hopes, dreams and everything they have missed through the years.

I adored the format of this novel entirely written through letters. Hudson's characters are so well-drawn you can't help falling in love them and rooting for them to get their happy endings. The ending is predictable but you become so invested you are hoping and keeping everything-crossed that you are wrong, and Hudson couldn't possibly end it like that, could she?! - I was reading the last few pages with an uneasy feeling of dread in my stomach. This novel is a little gem, heart-warming and heart shattering in equal measure - laughing and crying along with this cast of wonderful characters is not to be missed!

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Impulse & Killer Reads for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.

Sick of agonising over, being ghosted and heartbroken by men? Alex is - so she decides to shake up her love life, by testing a dating method 'six months to love: seven sure-fire steps to finding the one', recommended to her by her friend Stacey is living proof it works as she is now happily married to Mr Drop-dead-gorgeous! Sounds perfect right? One of the steps is no sex for six months! This sounds torturous, stupid and utterly impossible to Alex, but determined to break out of the depressing dating scene she decides to give it ago... though surely there is a 'better chance of coming home to see both a little green man and a unicorn chilling on the sofa' than this abstinence stuff actually working?

I laughed-out-loud throughout the novel! Spring writes with refreshing honesty what it's really like to date in world of dating apps and sex-on-tap. Her characters are fresh, funny and brilliantly relatable. There are touching moments too as Alex begins to value herself and realise the importance of doing things for known happiness rather than elusive man. Though after a few false starts she soon has two handsome men competing for her love... will she get her picture perfect romantic ending? Which one is Mr Right? The perfect fix for lovers of romantic comedy!

Thanks to Olivia Spring for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.

Cath's is forever putting everyone else's needs ahead of her own but now her son has left for university and fed up of being a butler to her bone idle jobless brother, she decides enough is enough and its time to do something for herself. She heads to France to retrace her great grandfathers steps (a solider in WWI), nervous to be travelling alone but excited to discover the wonder a new place can offer. She doesn't expect sparks to fly with the handsome tour guide Oliver... will this adventure be more life changing than anticipated?

This novel is perfectly balanced fun, laughter-inducing and uplifting. The blend of romance and WWI history is insightful and enlightening. A perfect read with great characters the prove sometimes it is good to step out of your comfort zone.

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.

Jenna goes from planning her wedding to proving her innocence. In jail accused of killing her step daughter, with her finance missing and awaiting trial. She needs to clear her name, save her unborn child and find a killer before it is too late!

'I'm innocent, I swear'... what a tagline! This novel is intriguing from the start. Clarke's writing is gritty and filled with tense moments. She details the harsh realities of being locked up and creates an emotionally charged environment that keeps you turning the pages to find out who done it.... it couldn't be Jenna could it? I don't want to give any spoilers but those twists are literally gasp-out-loud! The perfect read for crime fans looking for more than the routine thrills.

Thanks to Angela Clarke and Hodder & Stoughton for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.

Don is back! Now living in Melbourne with is his wife Rosie and their 11 year old son Hudson who is struggling at school, he is socially awkward and doesn't fit in. Join this lovable, quirky and entertaining cast of characters as they embark on helping Hudson. Simsion ask's whether we should label children 'autistic' and whether anyone should be made to 'fit in'. It big hearted, funny and leaves you with that warm fuzzy feeling, the perfect conclusion to the series. You don't need to have read the other books in the series to enjoy this one (but you would be doing yourself a disservice!).

Thanks to Penguin Books UK & Netgalley for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.