​​
There is no doubt King’s imagination knows no bounds. He doesn’t play it safe and there’s no taboo he won’t explore – this is a fine example of full creative expression which stands out in a sea of much safer, contemporary commercial fiction and should be celebrated as such.

Whilst King’s crafting is masterful, there’s a child-like nativity in his tone which works well for the POVs the story embodies and catapults you back to seeing the world through your own young eyes. He makes you feel the childlike fear, he uses language a child would use but not necessarily understand and also encompasses the bravery of a child who is perhaps more fearless than an adult. The nuances are quite magnificent.

King’s writing is vivid and you can see why this novel translated so well to film as you can picture it scene by scene. 

I do have some issues with the book though. It’s over 1000 pages long, so it’s a commitment. This in itself isn’t a huge problem, but there were quite a number of chapters that I felt were unnecessary and detracted from the main story. There were some really creepy bits, but then long-winded scenes between that took me away from the fear. They were so long and drawn out, that I even lost the anticipation that something was going to happen in some parts. I do feel that this would be a much scarier book if it was cut to about 500 words. However the writing skill is just as rewarding to witness.

Genre: Horror 

Rating: 4/5

The first couple of chapters of this book really drew me in. It certainly is a book that throws you straight into the action with a punch to the gut. As the story unfolds, we follow a mother trying to uncover the truth about her daughter’s death. What ensues is an Erin Brockovich-style battle with a huge company in the quest for justice.

Whilst it’s not a pacy-thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, it certainly is a page turner that poses some real questions about the farming industry. 

I haven’t read The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances but after enjoying this book, I’ll check it out. Overall, it’s an interesting read.

Genre: Corporate crime / thriller 

Rating: 4/5

The Garden on Holly Street is a book with real heart and an interesting mix of characters. I loved the sense of community the garden brought to the residents of Willow Court. The book is insightful, and I could really feel the author’s passion in the underlying message about not judging someone too quickly and the importance of spending time getting to know someone. The third person POV allows us to see what goes on behind closed doors and how there is often more to ‘the grumpy old man’ or ‘the pesky kid’.
It’s the perfect book to cosy up with on a rainy summer’s day.

Genre: Women’s fiction / contemporary romance

Rating: 5/5

What Happen’s Now is a laugh-out-loud ‘chicklit’ that’s sure to keep you entertained from start to finish. It’s a trope along the lines of Knocked-Up, where our highly likeable heroine, Lil, finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand. There are many funny moments as Lil discovered the warts-and-all truths about pregnancy in a no-holds-barred and honest account. 

There are some fairly detailed sex-scenes and some crude language in parts which may not be for everyone but neither feature very heavily in the book. The supporting characters are well drawn out and engaging and overall it was a truly enjoyable read that I raced through.

Genre: chicklit / romcom

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

I started reading The Family Upstairs knowing little about the story. I’d chose it solely because I’ve enjoyed Lisa Jewell books in the past and I wasn’t disappointed – in fact this is probably my favourite of her thrillers. 
The story starts when ‘Libby’ inherits a house. Libby knows little about her birth parents, other than they died when she was a baby and she was found along with their bodies, rescued and adopted. It’s not until she gets the keys to the house she was found in that the gripping and intriguing story of her family unfolds. 

I enjoyed the different POVs in the book and the split timeline was easy to follow and added to the suspense. I thought the pacing was fantastic and the way the story unfolded was perfect. 

Highly recommended!

Genre: Domestic thriller 

Rating: 5/5

The Guilty Party is a dark and twisty story of four people bound by a toxic friendship. After a night at a music festival, the group witness a horrific crime but for their own selfish reasons decide to do nothing. As the story unfolds and we learn a little more about each character, we find out why.
This book had me hooked from the outset, the short chapters drove the pace and the split timeline seemed to just unravel the story at the right time.

The characters are not entirely likeable, Anna, Bo and Dex are selfish, whilst Cassie can’t stand up for what’s right and wrong. The friends think they need each other and have a solid friendship, but really, seem bound together by dark secrets and the fact they don’t really have anyone else. As the story unfolds, we learn more about the secrets they share plus the ones they keep from each other and in the end I found myself rooting for the right outcome.

There is some pretty dark subject matter but the plot was plausible and hard-hitting. A grey read.

Genre: Psychological thriller 

Rating: 4.5/5

Hi there,

I’m thrilled to welcome you to my bookish blog.

This is where I’ll be sharing reviews of all my latest reads, and I’d love to hear back from you all, especially if want to share your thoughts on a book too.

I don’t take review requests, I just read whatever takes my fancy and share the love. If you’re interested hit +FOLLOW.

Anyway, I’m going to keep this short and sweet, but I can’t wait to share my first review soon.

Daydream Reader

x

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton