Category: Book Review

Misery by Stephen King [BOOK REVIEW] Misery by Stephen King [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Misery by Stephen King [BOOK REVIEW]

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Misery by Stephen King [BOOK REVIEW]

About The Book:

Misery by Stephen King [BOOK REVIEW]

Pages: 369

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Format I read it in: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★

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My Thoughts:

Paul Sheldon is the writer of the bestselling series that has Misery as the main character. And he’s finally done with the series and kills her off for good. He’s gone out to celebrate this relief. Misery made him money, but he was bored of writing about what fans wanted to read. But then a car accident happens, and he wakes up splintered and in pain, in the remote mountain home of his rescuer, Annie Wilkes. 

The great news is that Annie was a nurse and has painkilling drugs. The bad news is that she has been Paul’s number one fan. And when she finds out what Paul has done to misery, she doesn’t like it. Oh, no, she doesn’t like it at all…

I found this story so fascinating and thrilling. It goes without saying that it captivated me instantly. Stephen King has this remarkable ability to take you in some deep waters, where you freak out before you are able to fully admire his work. Because there is so much more to this story than just a psycho fan with a para-social relationship.

How about we start with Paul first?

His relationship with his character, Misery. He hates writing about her and he dreads writing those book series. The relief he felt when he finally finished the series. The excitement that he can now start focusing on another book in a completely different genre. And yet, with Misery he found success. Misery is all the fans want to hear about. And the most incredibly disturbing thing happens. In captivity, in such abuse, with so much pain – writing another Misery novel is something that makes him escape reality. Talk about human psychology, eh?

“But both discovered that good advice was sometimes easier to give than to receive.”

So many aspects of this book captivated me. Annie’s history and Paul slowly discovering everything. His close calls and his punishments. His thoughts about the book and the moment he made a certain decision (at the end of the book). The aftermath of everything and how it was all wrapped up… Stephen King didn’t disappoint again and I cannot wait for the next trauma I’m willingly about to accept by reading another one of his masterpieces.

About the Author:

Misery by Stephen King [BOOK REVIEW]

Stephen King is a prolific American author, born in Portland, Maine, in 1947, best known for his horror, supernatural fiction, and fantasy works. He began his career in the 1960s, with his first novel, Carrie, published in 1974. A hugely successful and influential writer, King has sold hundreds of millions of books and is a recipient of numerous awards.

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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW] Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]

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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]

About The Book:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]

Pages: 406

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Romantasy

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Format I read it in: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★★★

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My Thoughts:

When I truly love a book, I keep a note of my favourite quotes, and “Throne of Glass” was no different. Sarah J. Maas has that ability to instantly transport you into a world full of magic and wonder.

In this case, we were transported to Erilea and our main character is the incredible assassin lady, Celaena Sardothien. Captured and in prison, she is visited by the Crown Prince, who makes her an offer she cannot refuse. If she wins a competition, she will be free. But the competition in question involves killing twenty-three warriors, killers and thieves, a fight until death to become the king’s champion.

As soon as I started reading, I was hooked and intrigued. I have read the prequel, “The Assassin’s Blade”, prior to reading Throne of Glass, so I was aware of Celaena’s past, but I liked the fact that it didn’t impact this story and it could be read independently. 

I loved her connection with the Crown Prince.

Her reservation, the mystery surrounding her past and the events that kept occurring added to the slow burn romance. I am really eager to see how this develops in the next books.

I also loved the competition itself, and Sarah J. Maas is known for making a worthy competition. The different tasks and stages were very entertaining. I didn’t quite enjoy the mystery part though. It felt rushed, and then everything happened at once, all to end with a cliffhanger. But then, as I am writing this, I remember it’s Sarah J. Maas we are talking about. Of course it will all kick off in the last 30 pages. And of course we are left with a cliffhanger. I can’t even be mad about it. And of course, I’ll be there, always eager to read the next book. I just hope it’s as good as this one.

Favourite Quotes:

“He found her beautiful, if a bit strange and sour. It was something in the way that her eyes sparked when she looked at something lovely in the landscape. He couldn’t understand it.”

“Guards are of no use in a library.” Oh, how wrong he was! Libraries were full of ideas – perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.”

“Celaena smiled as she watched the Crown Prince of Adarlan lead the Princess of Eyllwe through the basic steps of fencing. He was charming, she supposed. In an arrogant sort of way. But someone with his title could have been far, far worse. It made her uneasy how he’d made her blush. In fact, he was so attractive that she had difficulty not thinking about how attractive he was, and again wondered why he wasn’t married.”

“Damn him for being so handsome.”

“The notes burst from her fingers, staggering at first, but then more confidently as the emotion in the music took over. It was a mournful piece, but it made her into something clean and new. She was surprised that her hands had not forgotten, that somewhere in her mind, after a year of darkness and slavery, music was still alive and breathing. That somewhere, between the notes, was Sam. She forgot about time as she drifted between pieces, voicing the unspeakable, opening old wounds, playing and playing as the sound forgave and saved her.”

“He didn’t know why, but seeing her made him feel like a man. She was something out of a dream – a dream in which he was not a spoiled young prince, but a king.”

“We all bear scars, Dorian. Mine just happen to be more visible than most.”

About the Author:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW]

Sarah J. Maas is the #1 bestselling author of the Throne of Glass, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City series. Her books have sold millions of copies and are published in thirty-eight languages. She lives in New York City with her family.

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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [BOOK REVIEW] Drowning by T. J. Newman [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Drowning by T. J. Newman [BOOK REVIEW]

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Drowning by T. J. Newman [BOOK REVIEW]

About The Book:

Drowning by T. J. Newman [BOOK REVIEW]

Pages: 304

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format I read it in: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★★★

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My Thoughts:

“Drowning” took me on a journey and gave me all the feels. I really wish I could read this book sooner. It starts with a plane struggling as soon as it lifts off. Very soon, it becomes obvious that their only option is to ditch. 

“The term “last-ditch” is used to describe an effort that is made at the end of a long line of failures. It is the final attempt and is not expected to succeed. In aviation, the emergency landing of an aircraft on water is called a ditching.”

When I think of ditching, the successful attempt in the Hudson River always comes to mind. But it’s scary to think that the Hudson River ditching was the lucky exception, and this kind of emergency landing usually ends up with a lot of casualties.

I cannot reveal too much of the plot, because I don’t want to spoil anything. But during the evacuation, whilst the aircraft is under water, the engine explodes and starts flooding the plane. Those that are still alive are forced to close the doors, but despite this, the plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers still trapped inside. What used to be a plane has now essentially become a submarine, and a team of divers is working to launch a rescue mission and save the people trapped. 

To make things more intriguing, one of the professional divers is Chris. And she happens to be Shannon’s mum and Will’s soon-to-be ex-wife. And both Shannon and Will are – you guessed it – trapped inside the plane, two hundred feet underwater. This was the only part that I didn’t really like. I mean, come-on, what are the chances? But I went with it, and enjoyed seeing the stakes being raised because a diver had someone they cared about in there. I would also like to note that if this wasn’t the case, the outcome at the end of the book would have been very different. 

Aside from that issue, the book delivered in every possible way.

As a thriller, it had all the intensity and fast-pace that I could ever want. Then, on top of that, the book was quite emotional. It made me cry so many times. Ruth and Ira, I am looking at you! I also surprisingly enjoyed all the technical details. The mission planning and the team brainstorming ideas with the resources and time restraints they were facing. The multiple plot twists also came at perfect moments. I really enjoyed the idea of the book and it delivered every expectation I had. It satiated my thirst for plane crashes – I’m that person that watches all the plane crash documentaries and podcasts. Now I’ll probably start watching submarine documentaries too. If this book sounds like it might be your cup of tea, I am 90% certain hat it will be, and urge you to give it a go.

About the Author:

Drowning by T. J. Newman [BOOK REVIEW]

T.J. NEWMAN is a former bookseller and flight attendant whose first novel, Falling, became a publishing sensation and debuted at number two on the New York Times bestseller list. Her second novel, Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 was an instant New York Times bestseller. Both books made a number of best book of the year list, are published in thirty-five countries and will soon be major motion pictures after selling in two separate headline making seven-figure deals: Falling with Universal Pictures, and Drowning with Warner Brothers. T.J. lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Believe by S. M. Govett [BOOK REVIEW] Believe by S. M. Govett [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Believe by S. M. Govett [BOOK REVIEW]

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Believe by S. M. Govett [BOOK REVIEW]

About The Book:

Believe by S. M. Govett [BOOK REVIEW]

Pages: 400

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Format I read it in: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★★

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My Thoughts:

“Believe” gripped me from the beginning, and amused me with the never-ending plot twists.

Told from a dual perspective, we meet two women, both carrying different weights on their shoulders. Natalie was sexually assaulted ten years ago by her boss, but the court declared him innocent, automatically labeling her a liar. Despite him being dead now, Natalie is still affected by the trauma this caused her. When she finds herself in a stressful situation, she experiences blackouts, waking up after a few hours with no recollection of where she has been or what she has done.

The second woman we meet, DI Stratton, is dealing with her own demons. Her sister went missing a long time ago, and the police didn’t do enough to help, dismissing the case. Still looking for her missing sister, she joined the force, so she is able to have a better chance of finding her. Stratton is also having a difficult time with her mum. Suffering from dementia in a care home, her mum often has flashbacks of her daughter’s disappearance, causing a fresh wave of pain and hurt to the whole family.

Natalie’s husband comes home one day, revealing he’s been suspended from work, because his colleague accused him of sexually harassing her. And then, the very next day, this woman is found dead in the woods, making Ryan, the husband, the primary suspect. Natalie is overwhelmed with everything – after all, her husband is being accused of the same thing that happened to her. But there is one thing Natalie is not prepared to share – she had a blackout on the night of the murder.

And this is where the story starts, and I adored unraveling it, bit by bit.

With so many variables and secrets in play, I never knew where the story would go. I loved the “unreliable narrator” trope. The scenes where Natalie realises that it may very well be her that is the killer and the helplessness about it. The inner battle between – was it me, or was it my husband? Was my husband so heartless to do the same thing they did to me, after knowing the pain and trauma I suffered. Did he kill this woman? Did I do it?

It automatically makes it a thrilling read when you cannot trust any of the characters. And despite not trusting them, I still cared about them and their story. 

When it comes to the ending, my feelings are mixed.

Some clues and revelations came a bit late and at a convenient timing. In a red herring kind of way. For me, this felt rushed and like taking the easy route out. That is the only reason it’s not quite a 5-star read. That being said, it was an incredible thriller, full of twists and likeable characters. A book that will definitely take you on a journey and perfect for book clubs and making predictions on who the culprit is and what really happened.

“But it’s true what they say about finding peace in nature. Plants rebuild themselves every year, coming back stronger, more vibrant. There’s a lot to be learned from plants.”

About the Author:

Believe by S. M. Govett [BOOK REVIEW]

S.M. Govett read Law at Trinity College, Oxford, before qualifying as a solicitor in the City. After realising that didn’t suit her, she started tutoring before turning her hand to writing, which she discovered was her true calling. She has since authored several bestselling YA novels, including The Territory trilogy and We Go On Forever. She also co-wrote the screenplay for the feature film, T.I.M., which was the no. 1 film on Netflix upon release. Believe is her debut adult thriller.

She currently lives in London with her husband and three children.

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The Shelf by Helly Acton [BOOK REVIEW] The Shelf by Helly Acton [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

The Shelf by Helly Acton [BOOK REVIEW]

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The Shelf by Helly Acton [BOOK REVIEW]

About The Book:

The Shelf by Helly Acton [BOOK REVIEW]

Pages: 416

Genre: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher: Bonnier Books UK

Format I read it in: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★

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My Thoughts:

Reading “The Shelf” was so fun. It’s a “make you feel good” book, focusing on inner happiness, with or without a partner. 

Despite reading the synopsis, I went into this book blind. I blame this on my forgetfulness – I tend to read 10 synopsis of books, and then choose 1 book to read out of them all. I’ll be honest – I did not connect with Amy at all in the first chapters. It was hard to read about her current life and relationship. Then the surprise event happens and Amy ends up being dumped live on TV, and entering this new TV Show – The Shelf!

It was at this time when I instantly sided with her, and loved reading about her journey.

“The Shelf” show has to be the worst, most hectic, most sexist show I’ve ever come across in my years of reading fiction. Basically, you get to win the show if you can prove that you are the best “housewife material” out there. And I have nothing against housewives. My favourite person in the world – my late grandma – was a housewife, and I know her life wasn’t easy at all. It was busy and filled with manual work, house work, gardening. But it was a house that was always filled with lots of love. Some of my fondest childhood memories I have are connected with that woman.

And to see the “housewife” term used as a TV-show concept in this way was not the nicest thing to see, is all I can say. I just believe that this should be a woman’s choice of life and not a decision made on her behalf, or a mandatory tick box when finding a partner, as portrayed in this book. In this show, you could only win the game if you are the perfect housewife material. The show was full of men treating women in a way they shouldn’t ever be treated.

“We’re all so busy trying to find the right person, we aren’t trying to be the right person.”

All the other women are in the same boat with Amy (dumped and left on the shelf), competing for one million dollars and being crowned “The Keeper”. I know, the show is a huge red flag. But the contestants are here to save the day. Aside from Amy, we’ll meet Jackie, Gemma, Hattie, Lauren and Flick – all of them very different and with their own stories. And most important of all, all these women make their lives a priority, despite their environment telling them otherwise.

I devoured this book in just a few days.

It was heart-warming, fun, uplifting and powerful. It spoke to my younger-self, that it’s okay to be single and happy on your own until / if you meet your person. And it spoke to my present self that it’s okay to have your person and share experiences and work things out. And that if something suddenly goes wrong – you’ve still got your person – yourself! I can only warmly recommend “The Shelf” for you. I hope it brightens your day like it did mine.

About the Author:

The Shelf by Helly Acton [BOOK REVIEW]

Helly Acton is a copywriter from London with past lives in the Middle East, Africa and Australia. Born in Zimbabwe, Helly and her family emigrated to the East Sussex coast when she was 15 years old. Here, she finished school and spent her holidays in Saudi Arabia, where her father had been placed with work. She studied Law at King’s College London before following a more creative path into advertising.

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