Summer reading

A week in Spain has given me a chance to catch up on my reading especially the pre-pub books that I have on my e-reader from Netgalley. The only problem being that most have now been published! Apologies for this but work and home life have got in the way of my reading. As things appear to be settling down on those fronts now (wait for A levels now over - and one child off to uni, just the wait for GCSEs now) I have an opportunity to catch up on my reviews.

Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot

The latest addition to the Princess Diaries  series and Mia is now a fully fledged adult balancing work commitments, royal duties, boyfriend, stalker and friend issues. Her father appears to be having a mid-life crisis, her mother is coming to terms with bereavement and a family secret is about to be unearthed - how is a princess supposed to cope? Coupled with this there is a wedding to plan.
The book races along and there is not much chance to develop some of the plot lines or characters. I was expecting more humour and the stalker plotline was never really developed properly or explained in my view.
 This book is apparently aimed at the readers who grew up reading Princess Diaries and I wouldn't recommend it to younger readers (11 or younger) as there are plenty of references to sex in the story. I think the readers who grew up on these books would want a book with more depth and development of plot and character.

The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows

I was really excited to get this as The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society which the author co-wrote is one of my favourite books.
Set in 1930s America, Layla Beck arrives in a sleepy Virginia town to write a history of the town for its 150 anniversary. Layla has been cut-off by her wealthy family due to her refusal to marry the 'right sort of man' picked out by her family. Arriving penniless she is taken in by the Romeyn family a once noted family in the town. As Layla begins her investigation in the history of the town secrets start to become unearthed and many in the town would prefer to remain hidden.

Willa the 12 year daughter is drawn to Layla and the stories she unearths, but her childlike view of her family puts everything she holds dear at risk, The story is very much about a child starting to realise that the world is far more complicated  than you first realise. Growing up means recognising that those you love are not always as perfect as you think. The Romeyn family in all their southern eccentricity are a great comic element in the story but there is a tragic side to them as well.

I enjoyed this book but I have to admit I think The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society is better

 

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

 As a Librarian how could I not be drawn to a book about the power of books and reading?
 I enjoyed this book about Sara arriving in Iowa from Sweden to visit her penfriend on the day of her funeral. The small town almost as broken as it's name take pity on her and takes her in whilst she works out what to do next. The next involves opening a bookshop and so the transformation of the town and its residents begins.

I know it sounds stereotypical and it is - small town characters that have appeared in other books, I can definitely see the influence of Fannie Flagg in this book but it is an enjoyable read. You may have to suspend belief at times but the author's love of books and reading comes across in this story.

It is true finding the right book for the right person at the right time can change a life, it is hard to believe that that is true but I've seen it myself. The right book at the right time can turn a non-reader into a reader or help someone through a difficult time .

This is a summer read that you never know may change your life!

Betrayal

Something to Hide by Deborah Moggach explores the theme of betrayal in its many forms: adultery, friendship, trust, hope.

Petra & Bev have been friends since their youth in London. Bev's annual round robins of life with her husband Jeremy in exotic parts of the world have been winging their way into Petra's life for years - but is everything Bev writes to be trusted?

Lorrie is married to her soldier husband in Texas with two children, battling obesity, loneliness and
wanting that perfect dream home; she falls for one of the oldest tricks in the online world and tries to achieve her dream through one last desperate throw of the dice. Is she prepared to risk her marriage?

Jing is married in China but how much does she really know about the r husband and where his money comes from.

The lives of these disparate people from across the globe are woven together by fate and technology,

Petra & Bev's story is explored in greater depth, whilst that of Jing and Lorrie felt like an add-on although Jing's husband is caught up in Jeremy's life whose death has consequences for all these characters. Some of the aspects of the story stretched credibility and seemed too contrived to be believed - they were simply there to move the story on our illustrate a point.

I don't believe this is one of the author's best novels but would be a good novel for discussion in a book group due to its themes, setting and depiction of life

This copy was provided by Netgalley free in exchange for an honest review

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