Review: Truly Madly Guilty

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary

Published: 20 July 2016

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)

Goodreads

Review

So I never thought this would happen. That I would give a Liane Moriarty book anything but 5 stars.

I am a loyal fan of hers, but I also remain objective, and objectively this book is just not 5 star worthy. Heck, it’s not even 4 star worthy. *cries*.

As much as I wanted to continue my 5 star handouts to Liane (which I’ve done for every single one of her other 6 novels) I just could not do it for this book. 

This book was truly, madly, infuriating. 

Review: All The Light We Cannot See

 

 

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Genre: Historical Fiction

Published: 6 May 2014

Rating: ★★★★☆

Goodreads 

Review

This book was haunting, and whimsical, and beautiful, and everything a book should be. 

It was intricate, intense, harrowing, powerful and all consuming.

Review: Big Magic

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Genre: Non-Fiction

Published: 22 September 2015

Rating: ★★★★★

Review

 

Elizabeth Gilbert I love youuuuuuu *Fan girl scream*.

This has got to be one of the best books on creativity I’ve read.  Seriously.  If you have not read this book I have a few wise words for you – run to your local bookstore and buy it NOW!

You won’t regret it. Trust me.

Review: Precious Things

Precious Things by Kelly Doust

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary/Historical

Published: 1 April 2016

Rating: ★★★★☆

Goodreads // Book Depository

Review

Um, so I possibly loved this way more than I should have, and definitely way more than expected.

One thing about this book: It is not boring.

You may be wondering why I have the need to clarify that? Well, you see, generally when I pick up  book like this I am bored to death by the end of chapter one.

Review: Out of the Ice

 

Out of the Ice by Ann Turner

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Published: 1 June 2016

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5 stars)

Goodreads // Pre-order on Book Depository

Review

After about 30% into this book I literally could not put it down. I didn’t want to eat, sleep or go to work – I just wanted to know what happens next.

Turner builds up the mystery of the abandoned whaling station perfectly. Half way through the book I found myself coming up with elaborate theories about what could have happened, with each as implausible as the next. It was then that I knew I had stumbled upon a damn good thriller novel.

April Reading Wrap-Up

Hi all,

I thought I’d do a wrap up of all the books I read in April 2016.

While I love writing fairly lengthy reviews, I also love when a reviewer summarises their thoughts concisely, and is to the point. So on that note, along with my rating,  I have included “nutshell” thoughts on each book I read below.

I’d love to know of you agree with my summaries, and if you’ve ready any of the books, how would  describe them in a single sentence?

1. A Thousand Pieces of You

Rating: ★★★☆☆ :

In a nutshell: Meh – not worth the hype.

Read my review here.

Review: Return to the Little Coffee Shop of Kabul

Return to the Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary

Published: 24 March 2016

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5 stars)

Goodreads // Book Depository

Review

Oh my. I am spellbound by this book.

From the moment I picked up it up I could not stop thinking about it. And now, having finished it, all I want to do is talk about it some more.

I loved this book. I really did. I loved the characters, the storytelling, the settings, the themes the book explores, everything. I loved it all.

Review: And I Darken

 

And I Darken by Kiersten White

Genre: Young Adult

Published: 7 July 2016

Rating: ★★★★☆

Goodreads // Pre-order on Book Depository // Pre-order on Amazon

Review

This book is bad-ass.

And good. Oh so good.

Lada is one heroine you do not want to mess with – anti-heroine, I should say, because she is most definitely not your conventional idealistic protagonist. She is strong, determined, purposive and takes no shit from anyone. And I mean anyone. Even the sultan. Take that Ottoman Empire.

Review: Lady Midnight

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult

Published: 8 March 2016

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5 stars)

Book Depository // Goodreads // Amazon

Review

Do I think the shadowhunter world is the best thing since sliced bread? No. 

Is this the best book of 2016? No. 

Is this a damn good story? Yes, that it is.

This is a story about choices – the choices we make for love, for family, for friendship and freedom. The choices we make despite what we’re told is right, despite what convention and society, and even the law dictate as ‘correct’. The story unravels as we wait for each of the characters in this book to make a choice – and it climaxes as we see the impact of those various choices. And it is a good read – enjoyable, interesting and fairly well written.

Review: These Broken Stars

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi

Published: 10 December 2013

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon

Review

First, the Good: Oh my God that cover blew my mind. I’ll be completely honest – I judged this book solely on it’s cover.

But it is true what they say – because the cover was damn misleading. Unlike the cover, the book did not blow my mind. It didn’t do very much to my mind at all actually.