Tell Me An Ending

Thrilled to join the blog tour for this one today.

What if you didn’t have to live with your worst memories?

Across the world, thousands of people are shocked to receive an email telling them that they once chose to have a traumatic memory removed. Now they are being given the chance to get that memory back.

For Mei, William, Oscar and Finn there is a piece missing, but they’re not sure what. And each of them must decide if the truth is worth the pain, or better left unknown.

For Noor, who works at the memory clinic Nepenthe, the process of reinstating their patients’ memories begins to shake the moral foundations of her world. As she delves deeper into the programme, she will have to risk everything to uncover the true human cost of this miraculous technology.

An exploration of secrets, grief, identity and belonging – of the stories we tell ourselves, and come to rely on, Tell Me An Ending is a sharp, dark and devastating novel about the power and danger of memory.

Would you have your worst memories removed? I’ve asked myself this question so many times whilst reading this book. It’s been a thought provoking concept from the get go.

In this book we meet five main protagonists , each with their own struggles and troubles. The plot is complex, disturbing but extremely clever. I was instantly pulled into this one and completely unwilling to put them down.

This is original, unique and makes you question what you would do, which memories you would get rid of. This book will trigger many emotions as you read. It is easy to be caught up in the events and emotions of the characters.

Harkin has included tension throughout this one. I have found myself suspicious of characters and completely unable to predict where this gem was going.

I have been completely transported by the writing in this one. I have felt connected to the characters and been craving more and more. Jo Harkin is definitely an author to watch out for and this is a book that should definitely be on the TBR.

The Last to Disappear by Jo Spain

A huge thank you to Milly for my copy of this absolute gem.

Publishing May 12th.

A luxury resort. Three missing women. One body.

When young London professional Alex Evans is informed that his sister’s body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he assumes his irresponsible sister accidentally drowned. He travels to the wealthy winter resort where Vicky worked as a tour-guide and meets Agatha Koskinen, the detective in charge. Agatha is a no-nonsense single mother of three who already thinks there’s more to Vicky’s case than meets the eye.

As the two form an unlikely alliance, Alex also begins to suspect the small town where his sister lived and died is harbouring secrets. It’s not long before he learns that three other women have gone missing from the area in the past and that his sister may have left him a message.

On the surface, Koppe, Lapland is a winter wonderland. But in this remote, frozen place, death seems only ever a heartbeat away.

My Bookish Thoughts

This is one of those books that will capture your attention and keep you hostage until the very last page. This is well-written, completely addictive and fast paced.

Imagine my shock, reading this and one of the women has the same name as my childhood best friend. Definitely made this an interesting read. Alex has been an interesting character, I wish we could’ve developed the relationship between hun and his sister more.

This is definitely a book filled with twists and turns. I have been completely unable to work out where this was going. It has surprised me at every turn.

This is a chilling and atmospheric book. The cold and icy setting really adds an extra element to this book. The relationship between characters is often strained with emotions running high.

I’ve read a number of Jo Spain books, this is definitely high on the favourites list. I have devoured page after page in just one sitting. This is definitely one for the TBR.

Sexy but Psycho

A huge thank you to Clara for my copy of this one.

Angry, opinionated, mouthy, aggressive, hysterical, mad, disordered, crazy, psycho, delusional, borderline, hormonal . . . Women have long been pathologized, locked up and medicated for not conforming to whichever norms or stereotypes are expected of them in that time and space. Sexy But Psycho is a challenging and uncomfortable book which seeks to explore the way professionals and society at large pathologize and sexualise women and girls. 

Utilising decades of research, real case studies and new data from her own work, Dr Taylor’s book will critically analyse the way we label women with personality disorders. Why are women and girls pathologized for being angry about oppression and abuse? How have so many women been duped into believing that they are mentally ill, for having normal and natural reactions to their experiences? Sexy But Psycho argues that there is a specific purpose to convincing women and girls that they are mentally ill, as the world avoids addressing violence against women and their centuries of ignored trauma.

My Bookish Thoughts

This has been an insightful read which I have devoured in one afternoon. Dr Taylor has produced an insightful yet distressing and disturbing read which really shows another side to psychiatry.

This is a book which contains a number of case studies and these have really resonated with me. I have been able to gain an insight into a whole area that isn’t discussed enough.

Taylor reminds us that not everything around psychiatry is negative. It is often the labels and stereotypes that are the most damaging.

This is a book I’ve thought about long after reading. I’ve struggled to coherently put words down to review this one because it has been so insightful and raw.

This is thought provoking and on occasions extremely upsetting. This is a book which needs to be seen and read. It will hopefully change opinions and is definitely one I will be recommending.

The Husband Trap

Absolutely delighted to receive an early copy of this gem.

He’s just proposed to his girlfriend—but another woman has him in her sights, in this terrifying thriller by the author of My Dead Husband.

Liam finally popped the question, and Emily said yes. But that very same night, Liam gets abducted . . . and wakes up to a nightmare.

On a large estate in the middle of nowhere, Liam finds himself the object of a woman’s twisted affections—and confined to a stone cell. A servant ignores him. A guard watches over him.

Meanwhile, Emily struggles to take care of their newborn child and tries to find the strength to move on. Can Liam ever escape and recover the life that was stolen from him—or will this bizarre prison be the last place he ever sees?

My Bookish Thoughts

This is a book I went into with nothing more than seeing the cover. I adore NJ Moss and knew that whatever this plot was, I was going to be completely enthralled and addicted.

I wasn’t wrong, this book has been completely addictive, pulled me into a complete lull and taken my emotions on a rollercoaster. On occasions, I’ve wanted to get off. This has made me emotional, angry and extremely suffocated. However, I’ve been completely hooked and immersed by this one.

Moss has created a masterpiece which is completely timely and definitely relevant. This is well written and will transport you. I’ve read all of this author’s books (and adore them all) but this raises the standard completely. Moss has examined a number of elements in this one and it’s really hard to delve into these without giving away any spoilers.

Imagine having the perfect life, everything you’d ever wanted for yourself- a nice home, engaged, baby on the way. Only for it to be ripped away from you, for you to be prisoner of someone who has decided you are the one for them. The control and mental torture which is embedded in the pages of this one really makes the reader feel Liam’s anguish.

This is a book which has made me feel so emotional, I’ve been pulled right into the turmoil experienced by Liam and Emily. There have been moments of tears. Maddie is a character that I’ve loved to hate throughout this one. In my head, she’s got a voice like Janice from Friends.

This has been completely unpredictable and definitely consumes you. It’s a book that you will tell yourself you need to put down, but at the same time you’ll be turning the pages desperate to know where this is going.

Moss has really outdone himself this book. This is a scintillating read which is a must for the TBR. I one million per cent recommend this book, whether a fan of Moss’ books or a new reader. This is a must read book.

Make Me Disappear

By the time I realized the truth about Daniel it was too late. But the truth about me? He never saw that coming…

Dr Daniel Ashcroft was perfect: handsome, romantic, protective. I thought I was so lucky.

But then I heard the rumors about his previous girlfriend, that she had vanished without a trace.That’s when I found the cameras in my apartment.

I was trapped. Daniel made it clear I couldn’t leave him, not without risking everyone I loved. I had to disappear, so I arranged my own kidnapping.

I should have known Daniel would never let me get away that easily. But he could never have predicted what I’d do next…

Make Me Disappear is a brilliantly twisty psychological thriller guaranteed to keep you up all night. Fans of The Wife Between Us, Gone Girl and The Couple Next Door will find it impossible to put down.

Wow!! What a debut!! I need more! This is every bit as twisty and gripping as I’d hoped. This is a book which pulled me and gripped me from the very beginning. I definitely haven’t been disappointed.

This is a book that has converted me as a fan of this author. I am definitely not disappointed and cannot wait to read more. With that said, this is a book that has left me completely speechless. I have been taken on a rollercoaster and been completely unable to put down.

This has been a superb read which I haven’t wanted to put down. Dr Daniel comes across a little dreamy until you venture into the pages of this one. Is all what it seems? Can we trust the good DR?

This is a perfect example of cat chasing mouse. This is one that been completely unpredictable yet gripping and addictive. This book is well written and taken my breath away on more than one occasion.

Jessica Payne is firmly on my list of favourite Bookouture authors. This is without a doubt a must read.

Keep Her Sweet

Thrilled to join the blog tour for this one today.

Desperate to enjoy their empty nest, Penny and Andeep downsize to the countryside, to forage, upcycle and fall in love again, only to be joined by their two twenty-something daughters, Asha and Camille.

Living on top of each other in a tiny house, with no way to make money, tensions simmer, and as Penny and Andeep focus increasingly on themselves, the girls become isolated, argumentative and violent.

When Asha injures Camille, a family therapist is called in, but she shrugs off the escalating violence between the sisters as a classic case of sibling rivalry … and the stress of the family move.

But this is not sibling rivalry. The sisters are in far too deep for that.

This is a murder, just waiting to happen…

Chilling, vicious and darkly funny, Keep Her Sweet is not just a tense, sinister psychological thriller, but a startling look at sister relationships and they bonds they share … or shatter.

My Bookish Thoughts

I adore this author and have been a huge fan since reading Worse Case Scenario. This is a book that definitely hasn’t disappointed. I have definitely been pulled in quickly with this one.

Fitzgerald writes in a way that is sharp and addictive. As a reader you are instantly pulled into the pages and feel as though you are watching the events play out.

This book introduces us to a dysfunctional and toxic family, which has really drawn me in. I have found myself wanting to know more about them. There are so many themes in this which are unpicked, as a reader we see everything from rivalry between siblings, parenting issues and unhappy marriages. This is definitely a must read.

This has definitely been a darker read than I had anticipated. The viewpoints from different characters have really added to this book and allowed us a holistic feel. Camille is probably the sweetest character, while I have found Asha particularly unlikeable.

This is filled with tension, suspense and a whole host of characters that will draw you into the pages. Helen Fitzgerald seems to get better and better with each book and this is a book which absolutely must be on the TBR.

Currently Reading

After Dark

Thrilled to join Century books for this one. Huge thank you to Laura for my copy.

WELCOME TO A WORLD WHERE WOMEN HOLD THE POWER.

They dominate workplaces, public spaces and government.

They are no longer afraid to cross a dark car park, catch the last train, or walk home alone.

With the Curfew law in place, all men are electronically tagged and must stay at home after 7pm.

It changed things for the better. Until now.

A woman is murdered late at night and evidence suggests she knew her attacker.

It couldn’t have been a man because a Curfew tag is a solid alibi… Isn’t it?
____________________

Wow!! Just wow!! I’m speechless and that doesn’t happen very often. How is this a debut novel? This is just completely addictive and impossible to put down.

Cowie has created a book which is timely and completely believable. Imagine, a curfew being imposed on men and them having house arrest for particular times. There have been so many things in the media recently that this has been completely believable.

Cowie has sent chills down my spine with this one. In a time where a curfew has been imposed, women are meant to be safe. However, can this be manipulated? We move through this one with multiple accounts.

Cass is young and rebellious. It is clear from the very beginning that she has been against the curfew and believes in equality and fairness- even if she can’t change it. Helen is the teacher of “Curfew class” and is often challenged by young case. Mabel is Helen’s best friend and works with Cass’ mum Sarah who tags men. So immediately we have some complex characters present in the pages.

There are so many themes to unpick in this book- equality, violence and attitudes toward women, relationships with older men and younger women, counselling before cohabitation. Regardless on your opinions on any of these issues, it is so easy to become swept up and hooked by the plot.

This moves quickly, but is definitely gripping. Cowie has a fantastic writing style and I have been unable to put this one down. This is a book that needs to be read by everyone. This is definitely a literary masterpiece worthy of all the stars.

Wild Fires

Thrilled to join the blog tour for this one today.

Grief is like an inside joke: you have to have been there to really get it.

The only things Cassandra knows about her family are the stories she’s heard in snatches over the years: about the aunt and cousin she never got to meet, about the man from the folded-up photograph in one of her aunt’s drawers, and of course about her cousin Chevy, and why he never speaks – but no one utters a word about them any more.

When a call from one of her sisters brings Cassandra news of Chevy’s death, she has to return home for the funeral. To Toronto and the big house on Florence Street, where her sisters are hiding more than themselves in their rooms, where the tension brewing between her mother and aunts has been decades in the making, and where sooner or later every secret, unspoken word and painful memory will find its way out into the open.

Moving between Toronto and Trinidad, Wild Fires is a vivid and compelling story exploring the ways we mourn and why we avoid the very things that can save us.

My Bookish Thoughts

Sophie Jai really does know how families tick. This is a portrayal of how challenging situations can make emotions stir and heighten .

This is well written and really gives you a sense of the setting, I definitely haven’t been disappointed. I’ve found it easy to visualise the settings from the descriptions. 

I have found this book slow to start with. some aspects have been confusing but I have enjoyed the way Sophie writes.

This book is beautifully written and explores family members dealing with grief and loss. A great debut and I’m looking forward to more from this author.

The Hiding Place

Thrilled to join the blog tour for this one today.

FOUR FRIENDS. ONE MURDER. A GAME THEY CAN’T ESCAPE

———-
‘It was only a game’… Until a boy went missing.

‘No one was meant to get hurt’… But a body has been found.

‘Just some innocent fun’… Except one of them is a killer.

Ready or not, here I come.

It’s time to play hide and seek again.

THE WHISPER MAN meets THE GUEST LIST in this gripping story; DI Fleet is up against some of the most powerful people in the country as he attempts to discover the truth about what happened on the day of the game…

My Bookish Thoughts

I love how Lelic writes, you always know you’ll have a good read with this author. This is a book with a dual timeline- 1997 and the present day.

This is filled with elements to unpick and covers a range of themes. This is quick paced and the characters are developed well. We see the individual personalities from each of them.

The Hiding Place is filled with tension, secrets and lies. There is plenty to delve into and unravel. I have found this one completely impossible to put down.

This is a tricky case which lacks evidence. This makes it hard to predict where this is going to go. I have devoured page after page in just one sitting. I found myself completely pulled in and unwilling to put this down.

I definitely found myself more interested in the victim’s POV. I craved the information and couldn’t wait to find out the events that had taken place.

I absolutely recommend this book to fans of the genre. This is a must read.