Category: Fiction

4 Books to Begin my 2024

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It’s been a hot minute since I’ve written a good ol’ fashioned bookish blog post! So here you are my friends – I’m going to fill you in on the 4 books I’ve already whipped through in 2024 📖

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren was the first book I completed in 2024. I zipped through this in about 3 days because it’s addictive plot line and characters were just divine. The True Love Experiment is about a US best selling romance author going on a reality dating tv show, much like ‘The Bachelorette’ or ‘Love at First Sight’ here in Australia. However, the set up for this reality show is that each guy introduced to our eligible bachelorette needs to be inspired by a romance novel trope, such as ‘the bad boy’, ‘the one that got away’, ‘the nerd’ etc. And of course, our beautiful, kind hearted producer (😉) can see this is a fabulous idea and will help make the tv network the money it needs for him to go back to producing animal documentaries. That is, until he also becomes incredibly invested in the show … and our main character. This book was laugh out loud funny, had great angst and hot moments, but also sweet and down to earth moments. I find Christina Lauren’s books a great palate cleanser ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth was my next completed novel. Admittedly, I started this in December of 2023 but just didn’t get around to finishing it until the hustle and bustle of Christmas and New Year was over. This story follows 3 women as they’re thrown into an investigation of the foster home they all lived in as children. A child’s body has been found under the house in present day and all 3 woman are suspects as the police try to put the timeline together. The flashbacks of each woman’s perspective shed light on what actually took place in the house/at this time/who this child could be. Due to the manipulative, abusive and influential experiences all 3 girls had at that house, they consider themselves sisters and are determined to see the woman behind their abusive childhood found guilty. I enjoyed this book. I would say that I saw some of the ending coming but there were other parts that I didn’t! Overall, enjoyable and I would like to try more of Sally Hepworth’s books this year. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

Weyward by Emilia Hart was picked up at the perfect time for me! I wanted the feel of magic/fantasy but didn’t want drudge through the whole world-building chapters, not understanding peoples roles and having no clue what peoples names are – you know? 🤣 So Weyward was more magical realism and I found it the perfect slice for my craving. Following 3 quite extended generations of Weyward women, all 3 are guided by their connection to nature, ability to intuitively speak with animals, and also grow their gifts. A strong plot line that I was not expecting in this book is domestic violence and intergenerational trauma. Each woman has either been exposed to and/or experienced domestic abuse, with the male figure being the perpetrator, first hand. This abuse is actually the start of their spark in magic as it is used as both a coping mechanism and also a form of protection or revenge. One woman is in the 1600’s and she is on trial for witchcraft. Another woman is in the 1950’s and she has lost her mother, has a poor relationship with her father and her cousin unexpectedly comes to stay following his time serving in the War. Another woman is in present day, and she is on the run from her husband after just finding out she’s pregnant. This novel certainly hits some cautionary points and has quite descriptive scenes at times. I didn’t find this a bad thing, if anything it made me more passionate about seeing these women through to then end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/stars)

Love, Just in by Natalie Murray has been my fourth completed book and I just NEEDED to pick this up because, girl – is she getting some hype (totally worth it I might add)! Love, Just In is a friends to lovers but there is also some high school chasing and then present day heartache. Josie and Zac have been best friends since the moment they bonded over music in high school, but as the years went by, poor timing, dating other people and after Zac experiences a tragic accident, resulting in the loss of someone significant in his life, they’ve drifted. Zac fled Sydney 2 years ago following the tragic accident and since then, him and Josie have barely been in touch. Josie has been offered an opportunity to help progress her news reading/tv presenter career, and it just happens to be in the city Zac fled to – Newcastle. Instantly, their friendship is starting to mend but Josie is seeing Zac in a different light; an attractive light; a more than friends light; a HOT light. Zac & Josie’s story had perfectly timed reveals, angst, funny moments and tender heart moments. The perfect Sunday morning/afternoon read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

How are you guys starting your 2024? New books? New hobbies underway? 🙈📖 Comment below 💭

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

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Okay talk about 24 hour read! Icebreaker by Hannah Grace had me up till 3AM!!

I could not put down this GODDAMN book down, with it’s big puppy dog like golden retriever hockey team players, the ongoing manipulative drama between iceskating partners, and the SPICE 🌶 … the spice 🌶

Let’s just say this story has over 5 open door scenes for all you snoopy readers out there.

The storyline had body and I appreciated that. Anastasia attends Maple Hills College and is training with her partner to become iceskating olympians. Together, in their doubles duo they train hard everyday, restrict their diet, limit socialising outside of their iceskating groups and absolutely DO NOT associate with the other ice rink users, such as the ice hockey team.

Disaster strikes when the hockey teams separate ice rink is damaged due to a prank gone wrong, and our favourite tropes get introduced people! Friends to lovers & forced proximity 👏🏼🙈 Que ongoing arguments, training running over time, longing stares and secret watching/admiring of each other 😉 AND the unstoppable merging of two complete rivals in sports.

Nathan is built up from the beginning as this gentle giant. He is the captain of the hockey team and also a strong father type figure to the younger boys in the group. Nathan comes from a wealthy background but doesn’t flaunt it (too much) and our favourite part – he is genuinely love struck by Anastasia.

A big chuck of the beginning is the two of them in their own lanes, trying their best to not acknowledge the other. But, it’s not long before we’re well and truely into the depths of this ‘I want you but it’s not good to want you’ back and forward.

I genuinely liked having so much of the book about them figuring out their relationship status. I think it helped to draw out each of their personalities and fears of committing to a relationships in college (or university). Things change at the end of every year, people move away and careers begin to take a forward step.

However, this is a romance people so let’s remember that they’re always going to end up back in each others arms! 🙈

Purchase your own copy of Icebreaker by clicking HERE ✅

💫 Mini Review 💫

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This book had me in with both hands and both eyes – unblinking 😉 I COULD NOT put this DOWN 👏🏼

Now, I know this has had varying reviews, most saying that too much happens towards the end and it all a bit extravagant. And yes, I agree that there is a lot that happens and it is a bit extravagant but for me, that was the BEST PART!

This is my first gothic thriller/mystery novel I’ve read and it will not be my last. And definitely not my last read from Riley Sager.

In The Only One Left we follow Kit, who takes on the new role as caregiver/home nurse to Lenora Hope, the unconvicted murderer of her father, mother and older sister when she was a teenager. Lenora has suffered a stroke in later years, and now an old woman now has limited movement in her body, and is harmless. Or so Kit is told.

Mysteriously, Lenora’s previous caregiver left unannounced. She has introduced a typewriter as something to assist in communicating with a non-verbal Lenora. Lenora and Kit slowly develop a friendship/relationship through writing back and forward about Lenora’s life and her past. Slowly, Lenora begins to share her story and Kit begins unravelling the pieces of what really happened that night.

Who was really there and who saw what? Did Lenora really do it and if she did, what made her commit such a hideous crime?

This dark, moody and addictive chapter cliffhangers, I had this finished in 3 days! If you’re looking for a novel with a stream of suspects, unforgettable twists and turns, and the need to be up way past midnight reading – try this!

Book Review: ‘Tom Lake’ by Ann Patchett

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You could say this is just a story about a woman and a movie star. And it is, but it is also so much more.

Ann’s writing style is something I feel I cannot compare to any other author. Tom Lake reads so easily, as if it were a breeze to write. Yet on the flip side, part of you can just tell each sentence has been deeply mulled over and crafted with care. I felt as though Ann knew what the reader would want at the perfect time.

Gracefully, we flick through past and present. In the past, we are watching Lara grow up. We see her first unexpected audition in Our Town, to her first interactions with the movie star and love interest, Duke. Lara’s career progression is quick, exciting and forgein. Her success in theatre was not where she expected her life to go yet her experiences brought her to where she is now, and that’s on a her family run cherry farm, with her husband Joe and retelling her life story to her three early 20’s daughters during Covid-19.

Lara retelling her story to her three daughters is fascinating and a topic our book club really chose to flesh out. We all agreed that after reading this book, there must be so many parts of our parents lives that we just don’t know. For me, I think these thoughts swirled as we heard Lara relay areas of her life in a certain way to paint a certain picture or image of herself and others around her at the time. Lara also chooses to not tell certain parts of her life to her daughters because they are too harrowing, raw and would change their perception of her. I think this could be true for so many parents. As listeners and readers, we take certain parts of a story and flesh out the bits in between with our own imagination. I think Ann painted a really great narrative around this action and how it can impact familial relationships and memories we thought we knew so well.

Tom Lake has been my first Anne Patchett novel and I can safely say, it won’t be my last. And I must admit, I know have a temptation to pick up more Reece Witherspoon Book Club books as this is the 2nd I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.

Happy reading book friends ⭐️

Sundays in bed with … ‘The Wake-Up Call’

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There is something about Izzy and Lucas that had me needing to stay in my pyjama’s until 3.30pm and finish this book! Yes, you’re hearing that right 🙈

‘The Wake-Up Call’ is our October book pick for THE ROMANTICS book club, of which I’ve started with a book friend this year. It covers all things love, spicy and fun. If you’d like to join our online book club, click here 💖

Izzy Jenkins is a bright, bubbly English gal who passionately despises Lucas, a sexy, strong headed and co-working Brazilian at New Forest Boutique Hotel. Both share the job of receptionist slash hotel managers. Yet sharing the role is proving quite difficult, as the two of them are competitive, quick witted and always have the upper hand on one another.

But see the thing is, Izzy has (and actively does) suppress the fact that she has feelings for Lucas … strong feelings, even when he is a stubborn pain in her behind! So much so that in December 2020, she sends him a Christmas card, openly expressing her feelings and suggesting he meet her under the mistletoe. Oh man, did this go horribly wrong! Que laughing at card, Lucas kissing Izzy’s roommate instead and a totally disastrous next year of Izzy and Lucas trying to work side by side.

I really enjoyed the rollercoaster that is Izzy and Lucas’ enemies to lovers romance. Their back and forth banter, constant teasing of one another in the hotel lobby and in front of Poor Mandy. Gosh, I loved Poor Mandy and laughed every time I read her name and scenes. She’s not in fact poor, but is rather referred to as poor due to having to put up with Izzy and Lucas bickering, competing and disturbing each other every week she works with them.

I will admit, there was a part there where it started to lull for me, but then we got into the heated arguments becoming heated emotional and intimate scenes .. and snap! my attention was well and truely captured again!

Beth O’Leary is an instant buy for me because I always close one of her books feeling lighter, happier and like there is the possibility of romance still in the world 💫 I really recommend all her novels, particularly this one!

💫 Mini Review 💫

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Small town florist Annie, or Sweet Annie, as her family calls her, is desperate to have a successful date. She just wants to fall in love, keep life simple and keep her path linear.

Enter, Will Griffin. Temporarily back in Annie’s small town to protect her soon to be sister in law & pop super star as her body guard.

These two have tension and the spicy kind of tension that has you wondering just how long it will take before their lives come crashing into one another!

Annie believes that Will could be the perfect teacher of ‘what not to do’ on first dates because her track record is looking pretty poor. Will is looking for any opportunity he can to be around Annie, but he is determined – do not fall in love! Will even struggles to identify what love is and this is an interesting aspect to his character.

Not falling in love with Annie … what a good joke Will 😉

Practice Makes Perfect was a great, chummy weekend read for me! I am writing this in retrospect as a few months have passed since finishing it and I can still feel the smile pulling on my face thinking of Will and Annie’s storyline.

To buy your own copy, click here!

Sundays in bed with ‘The Hummingbird Effect’

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This book has got me in with both hands and I’ve been immediately immerse.

Kate Mildenhall’s writing has taken me by surprise, I must admit. I was definitely not expecting to be reading a novel that has me physically cringing, squirming and churning my stomach as I’m reading. And I cannot stop!

Last night while I was inhaling this novel, I had the thought “I don’t think a novel has ever made me feel like this.” And by ‘this’, I mean such physical reactions.

To give some reference, The Hummingbird Effect is set in 4 different times in our society. Those being; 1933; 2020; 2031; and 2181. As you move through the book, you’re seeing little snippets of how our society is changing and becoming more reliant on mechanical, technological and alternative devices to limit our man power & skillsets. It is eery. It is scary. And it is real. Even though this is a work of fiction, you can feel so much history and research in its pages.

Kate’s ability to describe all aspects of an environment in which she places the reader, such as sound, smell and texture that all interconnects to the scene we’re reading – is just phenomenal!

I am looking forward to spending more time reading this afternoon & hopefully having this book finished before next weekend, where I’m listening to Kate in person at Write Around the Murray book festival ⭐️📚🎤

Book Review: ‘How to be Remembered’ by Michael Thompson

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Tommy Llewellyn is like no other character I’ve read before and I can honestly say that his story is one that has stuck with me.

How to be Remembered starts off much like Harry Potter (stay with me here!) and funnily enough, when I actually posed this to Michael upon our meeting at Collins Booksellers Wagga, where I hosted him for some of our local readers, he admitted that nobody had ever recognised that before.

Now I’m not saying Tommy is a wizard, that is not where this is going BUT Tommy is special. He is born with the unfortunate gift of not being remembered by those around him, the world, the universe.

On the 5th of January, Tommy’s Birthday, he is forgotten. All evidence of his life; who he was; a birth certificate; any clothing that is not on his body; a memory; pictures with him in it; they either disappear or alter to not have Tommy in them. So like Harry Potter, he’s a little bit alone in the world and figuring out how to navigate his life without a parent because (heart wrenchingly 💔) they don’t remember him.

I loved the fact that we didn’t miss one part of Tommy’s childhood. We really saw it all, year by year and written perfectly so we felt so utterly helpless knowing that nobody will remember Tommy’s first steps in a foster home, his tender relationship with Miss Michelle, making friends, learning skills, attending school and of course, meeting Carey.

Carey is a young girl living in the foster home as well. Of course, she like everyone else, doesn’t remember Tommy reappearing every year having only been there less than 24 hours before the 5th of January. Carey is troubled and has a history of events in her young life that have shaped the way she sees the world, people and relationships. Most children in this particular environment are, which is particularly why I think Tommy also found a place here.

Carey and Tommy’s friendship was sweet from the beginning and I just adored watching the two of their lives intertwine year, after year, after year. The persistent drive in Tommy to find a loop in the ‘Reset’ as he called in, was incredibly intriguing and had me guessing. I had no idea how or where this story would end (and I must say, I adored the ending!)

Tommy’s story isn’t one just about love, its about resilience, knowledge, not giving up on your friends, courage and compassion. Tommy is also just so genuinely sweet and empathetic that he even though he knows people won’t remember him in the future, what he does right now will benefit someone else in the long run. And in some ways, I think that’s a beautiful way to live.

Join Michael Thompson and I to discuss How to be Remembered over on my Instagram for a LIVE book chat this Saturday the 2nd of September @ 10am AEST. AND … keep you eyes peeled over on the Author Talks tab for an interview with Michael Thompson 🎤

Book Review: ‘The Dangers of Female Provocation’ by Zoë Coyle

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The Dangers of Female Provocation is the type of novel that will make you feel empowered with female strength, visibility and what could just be the consequence of a women/all women being pushed aside for far too long. If you’re wanting feminism and spice – this is the novel for you!

I had the pleasure of meeting Zoë in the bookstore. Her and I immediately connected over books that we love – most, if not all of them having themes of modern feminism, female empowerment and English & Australian historical fiction. I knew immediately after these discussions with Zoë that I would adore her writing and sure enough, The Dangers of Female Provocation has been one of my favourite reads this year ⭐️

Odessa is an enraged woman on a mission. Her beautiful group of female friends are surrounding her and discussing openly how much of their lives they’ve placed on hold for their husbands. Whether that be; putting the family first; diverting their career for another 2-3 years because their family just can’t manage without her being at home; limited intimate time with their husband; having a financial allowance enforced by him; and/or overlooking his affairs with younger colleagues from his workplace. Simply brushing it off as letting out steam and convincing herself it is more the female colleagues fault for tempting her husband in that sexual manner.

All of this sounding familiar? There are so many instances where conversations like this take place and a woman is continuously repressed, put down and has limitations set on her by a male figure. Some men have an ability to confidently manipulate and coercively control a woman’s autonomy and voice.

Odessa cannot let her sisterhood be repressed, ignored and persuaded like this any longer. A strong, fiery and burning female rage is growing. She is determined to teach the husbands of her sisterhood a lesson. She’s going to educate them in a way they’ve never been educated before. She will seduce, lure, tempt and manipulate these men. Her intentions are clear, yet as the pieces of her life begin to disintegrate around her, her methods become more and more extreme.

Odessa is moving through grief, reflecting on her parents relationship and her own current marriage breakdown while her ‘re-education’ is taking place. We can see how much of an influence processing these emotions are taking on her. Yet, does this excuse her actions or make them more justified?

This book was quite divisive in our book club and it encouraged deeper conversations about our own feminist perspectives and what experiences we’ve had in being disrespected, pushed aside for our thoughts and feelings, as well as what our place is in society.

I cannot wait to join Zoë Coyle for an Instagram Live this Saturday 10am over on @melreviewsherbooks. Come along and ask bookish questions away.

❌ Why I DNF’d ‘Carrie Soto is Back’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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I generally give a book 100 pages to get me in. If an author can give me the hook, have me invested in the characters, have me rooting for the journey/challenge the characters are facing and has me wanting to read, read, read – I will continue with a book. Sadly, I’ve lost that momentum with Carrie Soto is Back.

Only two nights ago I posted on my Instagram (give me a follow @melreviewsherbooks) to say how much I was enjoying this book and I was around the 60 page mark. But now, I’m sitting at 107, about to start a new chapter first thing this morning and I just find myself avoiding it!

I love tennis and the premise of this novel is fantastic. Carrie Soto is coming out of retirement after having 5 years off from a knee surgery, and she is aiming to defend her title of 12 grand slams in women’s singles. She is the greatest tennis player of all time. But the thing is, I don’t really feel connected or frankly like Carrie enough for me to keep reading her story. At the beginning, we’re learning about her Spanish heritage and how her father never made it pro and has invested his life in making Carrie a ‘tennis warrior’. Now at 100 pages, we’re in the thick of her play by play about which match is coming up, who she has to beat next, how she is training and what’s involved on her journey back to glory.

I think me DNFing this novel is a mixture of wanting deeper investment in Carrie, reminiscing on how I felt reading other Taylor Jenkins Reid books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & the Six, and just not feeling the same buzz with Carrie. Also, having so many books to read that I can happily re-home this to a friend who may enjoy it more.

What books have you DNF’d lately?? ❌