Book Review · Books

Nightingale Point by Luan Goldie

nightingale point luan goldie books book review diaryofdifference hq hqstories harper collins publishers arc copy london UK england bestseller

★★★★★

One ordinary day. One extraordinary event. Their lives changed forever. 

Nightingale Point is a book that shows the aftermath of a terrible disaster. A story about many people’s lives, how this event changed them and their recovery and grief.

BEFORE

The book starts with giving us a brief description of people living in two neighboring buildings. We get to know their daily routines, their worries and hopes. We get a glimpse of their everyday lives and start to care for them.

We meet Mary, who has moved from the Philippines into the UK to persue her career as a nurse. Her husband is always away and her children are distant.

We meet the brothers Tristan and Malachi – they have a tragedy of their own, and Mary is like their mum. Tristan is the naughty 16-year-old and Malachi is the older, more responsible brother.

Then we meet Pamela, a 16-year-old who loves running and falls in love with Malachi. However, her racist dad forbids her to see Malachi and locks her inside the building,

We see Elvis as well, who has learning disabilities and lives with his carer. He gets bullied by Tristan one day when Tristan spits in his face.

AFTER

On 4th May 1996, a plane crashes into these two buildings at Nightingale Point and everything changes.

Every resident that lives on Nightingale Point has a before and after story. The ones that survived, but also the ones that didn’t.

This is a story about how much one event can turn your life upside down, how it can change you and also how much little things mean in life, but we forget them so often.

I found it amusing that we had different chapters from different people’s perspectives, and each character had its own different writing style and life to it. This was amazingly done by the author. I found the chapters with Elvis especially refreshing, as they were so heartwarming.

Based on real tragic events – the crash in Bijlmer, Amsterdam and also the fire in Grenfell Tower, the author did a wonderful job in showing the readers the true pain, trauma and the battle of moving forward when a tragedy happens.

Guys, if you haven’t read this book, please pick it up. It will be a hit and it will change your life. Every time I look at this book, I will remember how much little things matter in life and will always call my dad and ask him how he’s doing. Because it matters.

Thank you to the team at HQ for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links:
| Amazon UK |

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Books · Down The TBR Hole Tag

Down The TBR Hole #42 | Down The TBR Hole Tag

down the tbr hole post book review books blog diary of difference diaryofdifference ivana reads reading goodreads tag booklovers

Welcome to the 42nd edition of my Down The TBR Hole Posts.

This weekend I have interesting selection to go through with you…

How Down the TBR Hole works: 

❤ 1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
❤ 2. Order on ascending date added.
❤ 3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
❤ 4. Read the synopsis of the books.
❤ 5. Time to Decide: keep it or should it go

Here’s the next patch:

down the tbr hole romance book blog goodreads netgalley love diary of difference diaryofdifference tomi adeyemi children of blood and bone children of virtue and vengeance isabel sterling these withces don't burn

The Quaker (Duncan McCormack #1) by Liam McIlvanney

I have this as an e-ARC copy. I love the mystery around it, and I think I will enjoy reading it and finding out the entire truth.

Verdict: KEEP ☑ 

In a Time of Monsters: Travels Through a Middle East in Revolt by Emma Sky

I am excited about this read, as it’s out of my comfort zone, and I am wondering whether I will be bored or intrigued.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

Eternal Love by Karimah Colden

The sequel of Karimah Colden’s series. I enjoyed the first book – Eternal Soul, even though I had a few issues here and there. I will read the second book as well, only to find out if it ends better…

Verdict: KEEP ☑ 

Days of Wonder by Keith Stuart

A beautiful synopsis, of a story I know I will adore and cry. A father-daughter relationship that I can’t help but compare to the relationship I have with my father – which is so unimaginable and precious to me. I can’t wait to read this book.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

Singapore Boxer (Ash Carter #3) by Murray Bailey

Even though a third book of a series, it can be read as a standalone. A mystery (which I love) that involves a bit of martial arts (which I also love). I think this is a win-win situation.

Verdict: KEEP ☑ 

Improvement by Joan Silber

I still don’t know what this book is about, but I was said to not read any synopsis and just dive straight into it. I would not usually pick this type of book in the shop, but I do own it and all books I own deserve a chance.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

Senlin Ascends (The Books of Babel, #1) by Josiah Bancroft

This book is here today because of the one and only Melanie from MelToTheAny. I have been wanting to read this for a while now, and I still haven’t bought it. I should do that soon.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

Taliesin (The Pendragon Cycle #1) by Stephen R. Lawhead

Even though it does seem interesting, I think I will pass on this one for now.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

Sorry by Zoran Drvenkar

It seems like a mystery I might enjoy, but I already own so many mysteries and can’t justify buying more until I get my mystery TBR pile low.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

Don’t Turn Out the Lights by Bernard Minier

I think the same applies here…

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

flower-divider-flower-dividers-clip-art-flowers-line-divider-stock-vector-illustration-of-elegantI removed 3 books this time. Not great, but still a progress.
This is how my TBR list looks like now.

Which books would you keep or remove? Let me know in the comments.

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Book Review · Books

Summer’s End by Kristy Brown

Book review blog blogging netgalley goodreads books reading reader summer's end kristy brown young adultt ya romance fantasy

★★★

Summer’s End is a Young-Adult romance, with a fantasy twist – an interesting and unique book I didn’t expect to read.

First of all – let’s all take a minute to cherish the cover. It is so pink and shiny, and I admit it, it was the first thing that made me read this book. Gorgeous cover!!!

Summer wakes up in a hospital, but she doesn’t remember anything from her past. They tell her she was in a fire accident and barely survived. Before she is ready, she starts going to uni with her two best friends who are helping her remember the past. But when she gets near this one boy, she feels something she has felt before…

Dooney has been training his whole life to kill her when the time is right. She is dangerous and he knows this. He has been trying to locate her for a long time now. And when he finally knows where she is, she makes him feel other things than hatred.

A very quick-paced book with lots of dialogues and quick chapters. Summer’s End make me turn pages constantly, until I finally got to the end. It was very captivating.

The beginning was great, it lured me in instantly, getting me hooked to both character’s lives. However, I didn’t quite enjoy the romance between the two. It felt too fast, too pushed and over the top. This is because of all the repetitive scenes where Summer would faint when he is near and they would always feel each other’s presence. It just didn’t feel real to me.

Saying this though, the ending was amazing and the romance got a bit better at the very end.

Apart from a few plot holes and the romance, I did enjoy this book a lot. If you love YA, I do recommend that you check this book out!

Thank you to the author, Kristy Brown, for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links:
| Amazon UK | Amazon US |

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Book Review · Books

The Other Mrs Miller by Allison Dickson

Book review blog blogging netgalley goodreads books reading reader the other mrs miller by allison dickson hq harper collins publishers

★★★

The Other Mrs Miller is a great mystery to help you out on a boring day. But if you are looking for the dark and twisty masterpiece to blow your mind, I’m afraid this is not it…

Phoebe Miller is married to a man she doesn’t love. He is a psychotherapist and Phoebe feels he constantly analyses her. She doesn’t work because her father was rich. And when he died, women started to tell their stories of all the terrible things he did. All Phoebe wants to do is hide in her house. But she feels constantly watched and notices a car parked on her street almost every day. And then there are these new neighbours that are clearly hiding something. Should she be worried?

There were a lot of relationships in this book that I had an issue with:

  • the husband that treats his wife as a study subject
  • the wife that treats her husband as garbage
  • the new relationship between a man with the IQ of a three-year-old and a woman that has no clue of what she wants
  • the unknown sister who would rather threaten you or kill you, than come and tell you she is your sister
  • the overprotective mother who doesn’t let her child speak

A very different, and at times, confusing plot. Interesting beginning and introduction, followed by a boring section in the book. A bit of tiny action, and then a slow paced stage again. And finally, an epilogue with a lot of pressure, many characters and a lot of mystery. Very satisfying, until the very last chapter, where the author turns everything around with another small twist, and here I am, sitting on my sofa, with the Kindle in my hand, thinking: THIS IS NOT RIGHT. 

A final twist, without any buildup, or any hints, without making any sense or adding to the story in any way. I wish the author or their editor just deleted that last bit. Disappointing.

I did enjoy the whole book, but the very end left me with a bad after-taste and I can’t give it more than these three stars. Amazing mystery, but ahh, if I could just forget about that last chapter.

If you love mysteries, I am still recommending this. You might enjoy it more than I did.
Thank you to the team at Netgalley, for sending me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Purchase Links:
| Amazon UK | Amazon US |

Social Media:
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Books · Down The TBR Hole Tag

Down The TBR Hole #41 | Down The TBR Hole Tag

down the tbr hole post book review books blog diary of difference diaryofdifference ivana reads reading goodreads tag booklovers

Welcome to the 41st edition of my Down The TBR Hole Posts.

This weekend I have interesting selection to go through with you…

How Down the TBR Hole works: 

❤ 1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
❤ 2. Order on ascending date added.
❤ 3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
❤ 4. Read the synopsis of the books.
❤ 5. Time to Decide: keep it or should it go

Here’s the next patch:

down the tbr hole romance book blog goodreads netgalley love diary of difference diaryofdifference tomi adeyemi children of blood and bone children of virtue and vengeance isabel sterling these withces don't burn

Bite Me (Bitten, #1) by C. C. Wood

I like vampire books, but I don’t own this one, and I have far too many to read that I actually own, so I will let this one go.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

Cursed (Cursed Magic Series #1) by Casey Odell

I like fantasy, but I don’t think I will like this one. It’s also very hard to decide whether I want to start a whole series of something…

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Legacy of Orïsha, #2) by Tomi Adeyemi

If you have read my review of Children of Blood and Bone, you will know how much I cherish and love this series. And yes – I cannot wait to get my hands on this one! I mean, would you just look at that cover?

Verdict: KEEP ☑ 

The Bronze Horseman (The Bronze Horseman, #1) by Paullina Simons

I love romances – but not sure about this one. I don’t think I am that much into historical romances, to be honest.

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling

A story about witches, in the modern world? Please let me read this 🙂
I don’t own it, so I am not too sure, but I think I will still keep it on my TBR list for now.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1) by Patrick Rothfuss

I have no clue how or why this ended on my TBR. Has any of you maybe read it? I think I am letting it go…

Verdict: REMOVE ✖

The Die of Death by Kenneth B. Andersen

The second book from the Devil’s Apprentice, a book where a very good boy goes to hell by mistake and becomes the Devil’s assistant. I loved, loved, loved the first book, and will be reading this book next month actually. It’s already on my August TBR and waiting to be read. 

Verdict: KEEP ☑

ANTimatter by David Winship

This book (and many others) were sent to me by the author, and i am planning on reading them all. 

Verdict: KEEP ☑ 

could have been verse by David Winship

Same as above – I have a lot of books from David, and will be getting to them soon. I don’t like not reading a book from someone if they have sent me a copy, as you all might already know.

Verdict: KEEP ☑ 

Chroma Crossing Chronicles: Blood Moon: Part 2 by S. Yurvati

I was a bit conflicted with the first book [SEE MY REVIEW] and gave it 3 stars, but I still want to keep reading it to know what happens in the end.

Verdict: KEEP ☑

flower-divider-flower-dividers-clip-art-flowers-line-divider-stock-vector-illustration-of-elegantI removed 4 books this time. Not great, but still a progress.
This is how my TBR list looks like now.

Which books would you keep or remove? Let me know in the comments.

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