It seems like May was indeed a very good month for book buying, and a very, very bad month for my bank balance. In all fairness, I haven't really bought anything else whilst still in lockdown except for books. There are a lot of people who are saying that their online spending habits have gone a bit crazy whilst cooped up indoors, whereas mine have actually been the opposite.
Except for books, clearly.
I also had a bit of leftover birthday money from back in March, so that kind of justifies just HOW MANY books I bought this month, doesn't it? Seriously, I think this might just be the most books I've ever bought in a single given month, which is both daunting and kinda exciting.
I'll start with the mountain of Kindle books first, but it's worth mentioning that I only really tend to buy Kindle books when they're on offer for 99p, in fact, I don't think I've ever paid full price for a Kindle book, so the amount of Kindle books I buy isn't actually that bad, right?
Firstly, I picked up The Hating Game by Sally Thorne because SO MANY people said it was similar in plot to The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren which I read earlier this year and really liked. Then I picked up The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams which I've heard nothing but great things about. The same goes for Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, too. I also picked up The Prison Doctor by Amanda Brown which I've also heard nothing but wonderful things about and I'm keen to read more medical-based non-fiction books after reading (and absolutely loving) This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay last month.
There are a couple of Kindle books I picked up that I hadn't heard too much about but the concept sounded interesting. They are This Lovely City By Louise Hare and The Rearranged Life of Oona Lockhart by Margarita Montimore, both of which sound exactly like my kind of book! I also picked up Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid which is a short story, and admittedly I don't really gravitate towards short stories, but this one I couldn't resist as I was keen to read more work by TJR after falling head over heels with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo!
The last Kindle book I have is The Spirit in the Crypt by Alexander Lound, which was kindly gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest review, and whilst initially it didn't seem like the type of book I would naturally gravitate towards, I ended up really enjoying it!
Onto the physical books I bought, and the first one was My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, which is a book that I am seeing everywhere at the moment, especially on bookstagram! I've already read and reviewed this, and whilst it's a very powerful, impactful story, it's also extremely uncomfortable to read. The second book I picked out is A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, which also happens to be my current read. I'm about 300 pages into this 720 page mammoth book and so far I'm really enjoying it, so keep your eyeballs peeled for that review soon!
The next two books are books totally inspired by LilyCReads on YouTube, and they are Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom and Mosquitoland by David Arnold, which she talked about in her April wrap up video. I'm excited to give these a go, especially Tuesdays with Morrie as it's one of those books you hear a lot about but never really think to pick up. I also absolutely adore the cover for Mosquitoland too - how cute is it?!
From a recent Tesco shopping trip, I picked up 2 books in the 2 for £8 deal, which is an absolute bargain. I picked out Educated by Tara Westover, mainly because I really want to start reading more non-fiction this year and I've seen people rave about this book, and then I also picked up The Women at Hitler's Table by Rosella Posorino because I love stories about WWII.
Then I ordered Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts which I saw Lizzy Hadfield talk about on YouTube and it ticked all the boxes I'm currently looking for - dramatic, kinda a true story (dramatised fiction?) and it's a whopper of a book at 936 pages and I'm all about bigger books at the moment!
And finally (yes, I promise there's an end to this post), I picked up two classics from my local garden centre, which unbeknownst to me until about a week ago, has a book section. I picked up Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - both of which I'm ashamed to say I've never owned or ever read!
And that's all the books I bought in May. There's a lot, I know. But lately I am on a reading kick which doesn't happen very often these days, so I'll take it and run! I'd love to hear your thoughts if you've read any of these books, too!
Finally getting somewhere with the garden. I mentioned April's gratitude list post that myself and my husband (okay 99% of it was the husband's hard work and effort) had started work on the garden. Since that post, we have completely dug up the old turf and put fresh topsoil and turf down. The garden looks a million times better just for having fresh turf and I couldn't be happier with it. We have also installed a 3ft picket fence, complete with matching gate, to separate the patio from the grass, mainly to limit how much the dogs go on it to stop them from digging it up which was mostly to blame as to why the turf needed re-doing in the first place (it's a good job they're cute!) The only thing we really have left to do is put some decking down and buy an outdoor corner sofa and the majority of the work will be done!
Getting ahead with blog posts. I'm the type of blogger who is so unorganised that there can (and has been) times when I've not published any new posts for weeks because I don't have any blog posts wrote up. I review books as and when I finish reading them and if a new post pops in my head, then I'll write it up and publish it there and then, but I really don't have any 'back up' posts should I fall into a reading slump or I just can't think of anything to write. It seems like my brain has gone into overdrive lately though and I've got ahead with blog posts, so I'm good to go for the next few weeks!
Being on a reading kick! Being on a reading kick is rare for me. I'm either too tired or too busy, but lately I've been making time for reading and now I seem to be on a roll! I seem to be getting through a book a week on average lately, which is good going for me (I work full time and am trying my hardest to keep my two year old alive/entertained/happy/healthy) so finding the time can be tricky and I'm definitely one of those people who complains too much about needing an extra hour or two in the day. However, lockdown mixed with just generally feeling happier has made me take advantage of those spare half an hours here and there and I've been gravitating more towards picking up a book rather than picking up my phone!
Getting my skincare on track (finally). I've always had an issue with my skin. When I was younger I suffered quite badly with eczema and for the past couple of months my skin has been so dry to the point it was cracking and bleeding and I just wasn't have a fun time with it. No lotion or potion or amount of water I was drinking was helping and I was becoming really self conscious about it. I eventually gave in and rang my doctor who sent out a swab kit for me and it came back that I had something called xerosis, which is basically just a fancy medical term for extremely dry skin. After some steroid tablets and a prescription face cream, my skin is now pretty much back to normal and I feel so much happier about it!
Winning at the little things in life! This is a bit of an odd one because there's no one specific thing I can narrow this down to. I simply mean that I've been getting lots of little odd jobs done here and there that I've been putting off for weeks, if not months. It's simply just little things such as touching up a bit of paintwork in the bedrooms, finally buying a rug for my daughter's room, mounting the TV on the wall, repainting the bathroom, rearranging my bookshelf etc. I've just got a lot of little "admin" types jobs done around the house and I feel so much more productive about getting them done!
Getting green thumbed again! Anyone who knows me knows that I love my houseplants, but during autumn & winter it's best that they're just left alone as that's when they're the most dormant. Now that we're fully into spring and summer is fast approaching, I've been repotting all my plants that have outgrown their pots from last year and I've also added a couple of new additions to my collection. I completely forgot how relaxing and calming caring for plants can be and I've really enjoyed getting my hands dirty and fingernails full of soil again!
What has everyone been enjoying this month?
Author: Alexander Lound
Pages: 246
Publication date: June 10th 2019
About the book
When fifteen-year-old Jonathan Roberts goes out with his friends on a summer night, he doesn’t expect to be forced to enter a crypt by Francis Everton. To be forced to look at skeletons decaying in their graves.
To hear the voice, screaming at him. Screaming into his mind. Commanding him to leave.
What the voice in the crypt belongs to, he can only wonder. A demon? A ghost? It gives him nightmares for weeks afterwards. Of skeletons strangling him. And then, bizarrely, of a girl from his school, making the long walk across the graveyard and entering the crypt. Never to come out before his waking.
When he returns to school in September, he never expects to learn that something awful has happened to the girl, turning his fear to panic.
Panic which will force him to unravel the mystery of the crypt, and in doing so, many mysteries about himself.
Review
I won't lie and say that this book isn't my typical read and not something I would have picked out had the author had not reached out to me and offered me a free copy of the book in return for an honest review. I tend to steer clear of creepy books (for I am a total wuss) but after a discussion with Lound, he reassured me that whilst some scenes were a bit creepy, it was nothing overly terrifying, so I decided to give it a go and step outside of my comfort zone!
I completely agree with Lound, whilst some parts are a bit spooky and keep you on the edge of your seat, it's nothing overly scary and certainly nothing that would stop me from reading it. In fact, it was a very entertaining book that was full of drama. I don't recall a dull moment throughout the book and it didn't feel like it dragged in any places at all, which for a debut novel I think is amazing. Lound's writing style was fun and adventurous and really immersed you into Jonny's world, and you get a real sense of being on a journey with him as he tries to figure out what's happening himself.
In fact, I absolutely LOVED the part of the book where Jonny was having a conversation with a medium about what happens when people die, about "Limbo" and the afterlife and the concept of it all. I thought it was extremely interesting and thought-provoking and I enjoyed reading about it.
I perhaps would have liked to have seen Jonny's character have developed a little bit more towards the end of the book, especially after all he went through, but this is the first book in the series, so I'm sure that will come with time.
Overall, I'm really impressed with this debut novel. It's fun and entertaining, and whilst it's not my usual read, I'm glad the author reached out to me as I really enjoyed it and would read the other books in this series!
Verdict: ★★★
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
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Title: Evidence of the Affair
Author: Taylor Jenkins ReidPages: 115
Publication date: September 20th 2018
Publisher: Amazon Publishing
About the book
Dear stranger…
A desperate young woman in Southern California sits down to write a letter to a man she’s never met—a choice that will forever change both their lives.
My heart goes out to you, David. Even though I do not know you…
The correspondence between Carrie Allsop and David Mayer reveals, piece by piece, the painful details of a devastating affair between their spouses. With each commiserating scratch of the pen, they confess their fears and bare their souls. They share the bewilderment over how things went so wrong and come to wonder where to go from here.
Told entirely through the letters of two comforting strangers and those of two illicit lovers and set in the '70s, Evidence of the Affair explores the complex nature of the heart. And ultimately, for one woman, how liberating it can be when it’s broken
Review
I don't often delve into short stories, but when I saw this one on Amazon for 99p I couldn't resist, not only because I figured it would be a quick and easy read, which let's face it, is something I'm always up for, but because I was excited to read something else from Taylor Jenkins Reid after The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo fast became one of my favourite books of all time.
This short story absolutely did not disappoint, in fact, I absolutely devoured it. It was exceptional. It packs a punch and is moving, powerful and full of emotion. My attention was captured from the very first page and TJR somehow manages to lay across so many feelings in such a short amount of time, without the book ever feeling rushed or pressed for time.
I also really didn't expect the ending. The twist was so good and I think I let out an audible gasp and once again, TJR has proved what an amazing writer and storyteller she is. I love her writing style and I love her ability to capture you and just completely immerse you into these character's lives.
It's refreshing how well written a story this short can be; I felt like we were taken on a journey with these characters and I would love to know what comes next for them. I appreciated the little nod she gave to Daisy Jones & the Six, too! I highly recommend this short story and is definitely worthy of 30 minutes or so of your time!
Verdict: ★★★★
Okay, so this post should technically be called "5 Popular Fantasy Books I Haven't Read Yet But Actually Have Sitting on my Bookshelf" but let's face it, that's a bit much, right? For some reason, a few months ago, I started leaning more towards contemporary books rather than fantasy. I was THE biggest fan of the fantasy genre for a long time, but one day I fancied switching things up and picked up a contemporary novel and have since been on a contemporary kick. That's not to say that I won't pick up a fantasy book again, but it does mean that I have a fair few fantasy books sat on my bookshelf waiting for the day I rediscover the genre. I guess this post is kind of like a TBR in the sense that all these books sound AMAZING and I do eventually want to give them a go at some point, but for now, I'm kind of just admiring them from afar.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
This is a novel that I've seen countless times on Instagram, and it's not hard to see why; the cover is BEAUTIFUL and definitely Insta worthy. But asides from the stunning cover, the story sounds action packed and full of fantasy drama and suspense. It's also one hefty novel and sits at 848 pages, so it's definitely not a light read and one you've got to be prepared to get fully immersed into! I've heard great things about this book and I think it's going to be one of those books that people talk about all the time.
A Curse so Dark & Lonely by Bridget Kemmerer
This is a retelling of Beauty & the Beast and again, I've heard nothing but great things about it. It became super popular again a few months ago when the sequel was released (A Heart so Fierce & Broken). I love fairytale retellings and made a promise to myself last year to read more of them after reading (and loving) House of Salt & Sorrows. I've heard this is a really entertaining read and a classic story with modern facelift. When my fantasy rediscovery eventually kicks in, this is probably the book I'll pick up first, purely because of the fairytale retelling aspect!
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
This is a book that I was super late to the party with, even in terms of just picking it up (for it to sit untouched on my bookshelf for months on end, but still.) The thing with Six of Crows, is that this has a literally hardcore fan base. Those who love this book, LOVE THIS BOOK TO ITS CORE which is kinda scary but also makes me excited to have it in my collection to read one day. I feel like if there's fans THIS dedicated to this book, then there's got to be a valid reason for it. Maybe my expectations are set stupidly high for this book, but I'm okay with that because I know my expectations are high when I eventually pick it up.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
This is the one that I'm probably the least excited for right now, purely because I've heard the writing style is quite whimsical and magical and that's not what I typically look for in the fantasy genre. Usually I hope for drama, world building, entertainment, suspense and excitement from fantasy books, so the prospect of picking up a fantasy book that's a bit more poetic with the writing style isn't my typical go-to, but that's not to say I won't love it and I'll certainly give it a go at some point!
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Another book from Erin Morgenstern! I feel like, who HASN'T heard of The Night Circus at this point?! This book gives me strong Caraval vibes, which I'm not mad at, I read Caraval last year and LOVED it and I think that's why I haven't picked this one up yet. I need to finish off the Caraval series before I jump into something so similar, so whilst this one sounds like everything I'll love, I really, really want to read Legendary and Finale before giving this a go. Maybe I've got it completely wrong and The Night Circus isn't like Caraval at all - do let me know if you've read both and if they're similar or if they're different enough to warrant me picking it up before having finished the Caraval series!
That's it for my the 5 fantasy books that are super popular but I haven't read yet. I've got lots more from this genre that are loved by many, so watch this space for a #2 to this post!
Author: Jane FallonPages: 407
Publication date: August 15th 2008
Publisher: Penguin
About the book
A husband. A wife. A mistress. And the ultimate plan for revenge . . .
The husband
James never intended to lead a double life - with a wife in London and a mistress in the country, it's exhausting. But that's all about to change . . .
The wife
Stephanie isn't really snooping when she finds a text message from a strange woman on her husband's mobile. But now she's found it, how can she ignore it? It's time to track the woman down and find out what's going on . . .
The mistress
Katie has no reason to believe her boyfriend, James, is cheating until someone claiming to be his wife gets in touch. Now she's been cast in the role of mistress. Not one she's happy with . . .
Once Stephanie and Katie know about each other, they must decide what to do. They could both just throw him out or they could join forces to make his life hell first...
But revenge isn't always sweet. And what happens when one woman thinks enough is enough but the other doesn't know when to stop?
Review
I was really looking forward to sitting down with a light-hearted book after the last book I read practically broke me, and I figured that since I enjoyed Jane Fallon's previous book, Getting Rid of Matthew, now would be a great time to pick up another one of her novels. I wanted something that was quick, fun and entertaining that I could breeze through easily and not think too much about. Unfortunately, I did not get this from this book.
To be honest, this book doesn't have a lot going for it. It didn't make me laugh and there was a distinct lack of the one-liners that made me laugh in Getting Rid of Matthew. The story simply wasn't strong enough and the characters were all a bit (okay, a lot) lacklustre. I found Stephanie to be quite cold and lacking in personality, Katie was childish and irritating which only got worse and the book progressed, and James was, well, awful from the off. I feel like the author's intent was to get the reader to feel sorry for James as the book went on, but I didn't like him one bit and couldn't sympathise with him in the slightest. In fact, the only character who seemed to have any sort of personality was Natasha - Stephanie's best friend and work colleague - but given that she is a secondary character, there wasn't enough of her in the book to make me bump this up a star rating.
Throughout the book, I was hoping for a big, juicy twist at the end and... nothing really happened, and whilst I appreciate that the author did well to avoid an over-the-top sickly ending, it all fell a bit flat.
I was looking for something light and fluffy, and whilst I didn't hate the book, I didn't like it as much as the first one and I don't think I would recommend it either. The writing was good and I have to give that to Fallon, she is a good writer, but in this case, she's a good writer telling a crap story.
Verdict: ★★
I used to do monthly TBR's in which at the beginning of the month, I would set myself a list of books I would read over the course of the next four weeks and quite honestly, it really didn't work out well for me. I found I never stuck to them because I fancied reading something else, or I set myself too many books to read and I just didn't have time to read them. It was almost becoming a bit of a slog to read and it almost felt like a bit of a chore. Now that I've scrapped monthly TBR lists, I'm enjoying reading so much more because HELLO no pressure.
Having said that, there are a few books that are high priority that I want to get through sooner rather than later. This isn't so much a traditional TBR, more so just a select few books which have caught my attention lately that I kinda fancy giving a go - without the added pressure of a deadline.
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
The story follows Vanessa, a now 30-something woman who had a love affair with her teacher, Jacob Strane, when she was only 15 years old. Vanessa never thought of their relationship as predatory, but now that Strane is in the limelight after being accused of sexual abuse by a former student, Vanessa is forced to rethink her relationship with the man who consistently told her she was his sole mate - did he really love her, or was she brainwashed by him into being groomed, too?
This is actually my current read as I'm typing this, but I'm only 50 pages in, so it still counts, doesn't it? This is the debut novel from the author and I've heard this book is both gripping and dark and slightly uncomfortable. It sounds like tense stuff, but all the reviews are amazing and I think it will be a hard-hitting, powerful read.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston
When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. But Alex doesn't get along with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond, and when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, the U.S. & British relations take a turn for the worse. Heads of family, state and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all?
This book was everywhere a couple of years ago and I missed out on the hype, but I really want to pick this up sooner rather than later. It sounds like it's full of drama and a bit of a stretch in terms of a realistic storyline, but hey, who doesn't love a bit of extra fluff in a romance novel, right?
Bear Town by Fredrik Backman
Beartown is a small town in a large Swedish forest. For most of the year it is under a thick blanket of snow, experiencing the kind of cold and dark that brings people closer together - or pulls them apart. Its isolation means that Beartown has been slowly shrinking with each passing year. But now the town is on the verge of an astonishing revival. Everyone can feel the excitement. A bright new future is just around the corner. Until the day it is all put in jeopardy by a single, brutal act. It divides the town into those who think it should be hushed up and forgotten, and those who'll risk the future to see justice done. At last, it falls to one young man to find the courage to speak the truth that it seems no one else wants to hear. With the town's future at stake, no one can stand by or stay silent. Everyone is on one side or the other. Which side would you be on?
I read A Man Called Ove by Backman a few months ago and absolutely fell in love with both the story and Backman's writing style, and I've been itching to pick up another one of his books ever since. I've heard this is one of the more intense novels from Backman, but that makes me even more excited to pick it up and see what all the fuss is about!
Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
For a while, Daisy Jones & The Six were everywhere. Their albums were on every turntable, they sold out arenas from coast to coast, their sound defined an era. And then, on 12 July 1979, they split. Nobody ever knew why. Until now. They were lovers and friends and brothers and rivals. They couldn't believe their luck, until it ran out. This is their story of the early days and the wild nights, but everyone remembers the truth differently. The only thing they all know for sure is that from the moment Daisy Jones walked barefoot, on to the stage at the Whisky, the band were irrevocably changed. Making music is never just about the music. And sometimes it can be hard to tell where the sound stops and the feelings begin.
Just like Bear Town, this is a book that I've been meaning to pick up because I fell in love with another book by the same author. I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo a few months ago and it fast became one of my all time favorite books and I've been desperate to pick up another one of her novels ever since. The reviews of Daisy Jones & the Six have come in thick and fast, and if it's anything like Evelyn Hugo, we're onto a winner.
Have you read any of these books? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Title: My Dark Vanessa
Author: Kate Elizabeth Russell
Pages: 384
Publication date: March 10th 2020
Publisher: William Morrow
Trigger warnings; sexual abuse, rape, gaslighing & grooming.
About the book
2000. Bright, ambitious, and yearning for adulthood, fifteen-year-old Vanessa Wye becomes entangled in an affair with Jacob Strane, her magnetic and guileful forty-two-year-old English teacher.
2017. Amid the rising wave of allegations against powerful men, a reckoning is coming due. Strane has been accused of sexual abuse by a former student, who reaches out to Vanessa, and now Vanessa suddenly finds herself facing an impossible choice: remain silent, firm in the belief that her teenage self willingly engaged in this relationship, or redefine herself and the events of her past. But how can Vanessa reject her first love, the man who fundamentally transformed her and has been a persistent presence in her life? Is it possible that the man she loved as a teenager—and who professed to worship only her—may be far different from what she has always believed?
Review
Usually I write up a review on a book pretty much as soon as I've read it, so that whatever I write is as fresh and raw as it possibly can be. This book was different. It took a couple of days to put together some solid thoughts on this book and there are a few reasons as to why.
I completely underestimated just how dark this book was actually going to be. I'd seen it float around bookstagram for a little while and that's why I decided to pick it up and give it a go, but my god, I wish I'd been more clued up on how unsettling this book actually is. Yes, of course, the title is a dead giveaway and the blurb lets you know the topic at the forefront of the story, yet I was still shocked at just how difficult this book was.
There's absolutely no denying that this is probably one of the hardest books I've ever read. It was an extremely uncomfortable read, but to be completely honest, I think it should be an uncomfortable read. It should make you shudder and it should be hard to digest. I almost had to force myself to continue reading this book and there were parts that are extremely graphic and I had to have a breather and put the book down for a little while.
I can see why the author specifically made a point about how this story is not about herself or anyone she personally knows, it's about the Vanessa's of this world who are confused, betrayed and brainwashed by men like Strane. It's about girls who are struggling to accept that they have been wronged by someone they thought worshipped them. It's about the girls who are victims and yet might not know it or even realise that what they experienced is considered abuse.
I think the reason this book hit me as hard as it did, was because Vanessa is so real. The author doesn't make her out to be a hero. She doesn't make her perfect. She is in a dead end job that she hates, has a crappy apartment that is constantly messy, and sleeps around to fill a void in her life. It's heartbreaking. I was both equally annoyed on Vanessa's behalf but also wanted her to sort her shit out and do the right thing. I wanted to scream at her that what she was experiencing wasn't love, but once the frustration wore off, I just felt compellingly sad on the character's behalf.
If there's one thing I could criticise this book for, it's that the last half of the book was a little slower and dragged in parts and the book could have been that little bit shorter.
I can't stress enough how difficult this is to read and "enjoyable" probably isn't the right word to use, but equally, I was completely engrossed in the story and I had to know how things ended for Vanessa. It's a complex story that will make you ask some tough questions; was it love or was it abuse? If there's one thing to take from this book, it's that we live in a heartbreaking and disappointing reality and something has to change. I recommend it to anyone who can handle it, but I absolutely see why it's not for everyone.
Verdict: ★★★★
Title: The Switch
Author: Beth O'Leary
Pages: 328
Publication date: April 16th 2020
Publisher: Quercus
About the book
Eileen is sick of being 79.
Leena's tired of life in her twenties.
Maybe it's time they swapped places...
When overachiever Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, she escapes to her grandmother Eileen's house for some overdue rest. Eileen is newly single and about to turn eighty. She'd like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen.
Once Leena learns of Eileen's romantic predicament, she proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love. Meanwhile Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire. But with gossiping neighbours and difficult family dynamics to navigate up north, and trendy London flatmates and online dating to contend with in the city, stepping into one another's shoes proves more difficult than either of them expected.
Leena learns that a long-distance relationship isn't as romantic as she hoped it would be, and then there is the annoyingly perfect - and distractingly handsome - school teacher, who keeps showing up to outdo her efforts to impress the local villagers. Back in London, Eileen is a huge hit with her new neighbours, but is her perfect match nearer home than she first thought?
Review
I've been highly, highly anticipating the release of The Switch ever since I read and absolutely devoured Beth O'Leary's debut novel The Flatshare back in February, and lemme tell you, it absolutely did not disappoint.
The story was light in tone, but just like The Flatshare, it did touch on some important topics such as loneliness, grief, domestic abuse, mental illness and infidelity, which sounds like a lot, but the author manages to incorporate these subjects into the story without it ever sending the reader on a miserable downfall.
Both Eileen and Leena were both admirable and fascinating and both women touched on subjects that were relatable and interesting. Sure, there is of course going to be some extra fluff added to the story, but the overall perception of the book was that these are both strong women who stop at nothing to do the right thing, not only by themselves, but for those around them.
I also absolutely loved the contrast between the two settings. There was something incredibly interesting about switching from the busy, energetic streets of London with its go-getters and ambitious business men and women, to the quiet, idyll beauty of a teeny Yorkshire village with it's charming cottages and the quirky residents. Somehow the author manages to make these two very different settings have a real sense of community spirit and the notions of family, friendship, acceptance, stepping outside your comfort zone - no matter how old or young - was something that was right at the heart of this story.
I completely got lost in this book, and it was the perfect read for these unpredictable times that we're all living in. It was cosy, sweet and homely whilst also touching some pretty important issues without ever steering away from the endearing warmth of the characters.
I absolutely adored this book and enjoyed every bit of it as much as I thought I would and I cannot wait to see what Beth O'Leary releases next!
Verdict: ★★★★★
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