The geography of you and me

I had read The statistical probability of love at first sight by Jennifer E, Smith and enjoyed it, so was looking forward to reading this second title.
Owen and Lucy meet by chance during a blackout in New York in the height of summer, a chance encounter changes their lives as those few hours spent together impact on decision they make over the next year. The story moves backwards and forwards as Owen crosses America with his father by car and Lucy moves around Europe with her family. They keep in touch by postcard an old-fashioned form of communication in this day of instant communication and this device goes some way to making the story a little too contrived.
It is an engaging story, well told, but I could pick it up and put it down and not worry. There was never not a sense that everything would be alright in the end.  A good summer read which would appeal to readers of romances but, unfortunately, a somewhat forgettable book.
This book was given free by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The Worst Girlfriend in the World

The latest title from Sarra Manning is about Franny & Alice, friends through thick and thin and now about to be separated for the first time, as Alice stays on at school to do A Levels and Franny goes to College to study Fashion. The two girls could not be more different with Franny appearing to be shy and quiet next to her more outgoing friend who has the reputation for being 'the worst girlfriend in the world' in their small town for her love 'em and leave 'em attitude to boys. Franny is finding life difficult: her mother is sick, her father is on the road all the time and both sisters have left her to cope with their mother. Going to College proves to be an eye-opener for Franny and she gradually starts to come out of her shell. This leads to Alice becoming jealous of Franny's new found confidence and sets her sights on the boy Franny has had a crush on for years. Will the two best friends fall out and become enemies ....over a boy!
The story is somewhat predictable but Sarra Manning has created believable characters and a well-plotted story. This will appeal to her many fans as her story moves along at a fair pace and has many comic as well as a few darker moments. A good read!

Reading can change your life!

 

The collected works of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

AJ Fikry is at rock bottom - he is recently bereaved, owns a bookshop on a small island that caters for his tastes as opposed to the local residents and sees his precious copy of a rare Edgar Allan Pope book as his ticket to somewhere else.

A series of events including finding a small child left in his shop, and the theft of his precious book force him to start connecting with the real world and more importantly the people in it. Stories and books that he shares and recommends to local residents start making him less of an island and more part of a community.

Each chapter opens with AJ's recommendation of a short story - and it is only at the end that you realise why the story unfolds in this way. He recommends stories from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Roald Dahl and Raymond Chandler and many more - and they make you want to seek them out and see if you agree with the review!

This is a brilliant book which I really enjoyed - if you believe in the power of books, stories and reading to make connections and at times be life changing and affirming this is the book for you!

This book was received for free form Netgalley in exchange for an honest review