After You by Jojo Moyes

Just a notice that this review (and the synopsis) will spoil the book ‘Me Before You’ so if you haven’t read that book in its entirety, you are warned!

Synopsis

Lou Clark has lots of questions.

Like how it is she's ended up working in an airport bar, spending every shift watching other people jet off to new places.

Or why the flat she's owned for a year still doesn't feel like home.

Whether her close-knit family can forgive her for what she did eighteen months ago.

And will she ever get over the love of her life.

What Lou does know for certain is that something has to change.

Then, one night, it does.

But does the stranger on her doorstep hold the answers Lou is searching for - or just more questions?

Close the door and life continues: simple, ordered, safe.

Open it and she risks everything.

But Lou once made a promise to live. And if she's going to keep it, she has to invite them in . . .

Review

I will start by saying that 'Me Before You' is my joint favourite book of all time (Joint with ‘The Memory Book’ by Rowan Coleman and ‘Chasing Daisy’ by Paige Toon), so I was excited when I heard this was coming out. However, I was also a bit apprehensive, as while I don’t normally like open-ended conclusions, ‘Me Before You’ had one that felt like pure perfection! The result is this book has given me mixed feelings, and writing this review is the hardest I’ve wrote to date.

The writing is as inviting as all of Jojo’s books are. You get the feeling of the surroundings in wonderful descriptive detail, and the characterisation is just as vivid.
Louisa is a changed woman. 18 months after she said goodbye to Will, she still hasn’t let go, and just exists, not really living, certainly not the life Will wanted (and I had hope for). The loss Louise has to deal with is beyond terrible and this book shows that for all the hope you can feel, life doesn’t always turn out like you imagine.

Lily is a typical teenager, amplified. She is rude and selfish with no regards for others most of the time. Yet she expects people to bend over backwards for them, then wonders why they don’t like her, when really a lot of the time it’s the circumstances they meet in. You can tell she just wants to feel loved though, as it’s obvious she lacks that from her parents, so I did feel for her.

My issue with the book is that while all the characters were back, for me at least it lost the magic that ‘Me Before You’ had. There was a storyline with Louisa’s parents that seemed a bit ‘out there’ from the parents we knew in ‘Me Before You’, at times it gave a small amount of comic relief, but I’m not sure whether it was meant to or not. Whereas, when there was humour in the first book was the dynamic between Louisa and Will; and little special moments between them, and at times Nathan and Will’s friendship. I laughed out loud at times, despite the overall emotion of the book being one of sadness with some hope. At least I knew it was supposed to be funny. The main plot device wasn’t easy to guess, but once revealed it felt to me like this book was written to please people, not because Jojo had more of the story to tell. Like when reading the Harry Potter series, I really felt like JK Rowling knew what was coming up at all times, like it was written as a complete story, then split and edited into the 7 books. Whereas I didn’t get that feeling here.

I think if I don’t compare it to ‘Me Before You’, I would have enjoyed ‘After You’ a lot more, but as it’s a sequel it’s near impossible to do that. Overall though, it was hard to put down and I did enjoy the book, and would say people should read it, but just don’t expect the same magical experience that I feel you get with ‘Me Before You’. With all this said, if a third book was to be written, it would definitely be a day one purchase for me!

Order on Amazon now!

Published by: Penguin

The Little Flower Shop by the Sea by Ali McNamara

Synopsis

The blossom is out in the little Cornish harbour town of St Felix

But Poppy Carmichael's spirits aren't lifted by the pretty West Country spring. Inheriting her grandmother's flower shop has forced her to return to Cornwall, a place that holds too many memories. 

Poppy is determined to do her best for the sake of her adored grandmother, but she struggles with the responsibility of the more-shabby-than-chic shop. And with the added complication of Jake, the gruff but gorgeous local flower grower, Poppy is very tempted to run away... 

The pretty little town has a few surprises in store for Poppy. With new friends to help her and romance blooming, it's time for Poppy to open her heart to St Felix and to the special magic of a little flower shop by the sea!

Review

I’ve read all of Ali McNamara’s books and I’ve adored them all, especially her stand alone books. This one may just be her best yet. Set in St. Felix, a quaint and picturesque Cornish town. The town is beautifully described with the atmosphere perfectly set and reminds me of holidays by the seaside with my family when I was younger.

The characterisation was absolutely fantastic, and you felt a similar community feel that I remember from Ali’s second book ‘Breakfast at Darcy’s’. The majority of the characters are really helpful and lovely. Everyone goes out of their way to help one another, it's so charming, you find yourself wishing that you lived there, or in a similar community. Of course, there is always someone who likes to ruin the fun and St. Felix is no different with a member of the Women's guild and parish council.  My favourite character was Amber, despite not hailing from St. Felix, she fitted right in, and was such a lovely person. Forgiving, understanding, fin and a little quirky. There was a bit of mystery about her, but you could tell it wasn't anything about her being a baddie (so to speak) the instant she was introduced, I just trusted her instantly, she puts you at ease. Stan also sounds like such a character!

Poppy, the lead character, clearly has some problems from the past. She obviously suffers from a phobia of flowers (Anthophobia) but you are left wondering exactly why, only having an idea it's to do with her brother, Will. I liked this, as it showed both a vulnerable side to Poppy as well as a side that's slightly self absorbed - though she is still likeable as this is obviously a reaction to her problems, not in the vein, selfish way like Regina from  'Mean Girls' or the ilk. Seeing her relationship with Jake was also interesting, each navigating the others issues, as well as their own.

As I said earlier, this book is easily Ali's best yet. Fun, magical and with a lot of heart. This is definitely one to read as soon as you can! 

Order on Amazon now!

Published by: Sphere
Gratefully received from the Publisher for review.

Saved By the Bell by Joelle Sellner, Chynna Clugston Flores, Tim Fish

Synopsis

The classic TV series gets an update for today’s brand new high-schoolers as the coolest kids at Bayside High start their freshman year! 

All your favorite characters – Zack, Slater, Kelly, Lisa, Screech and Jessie (and Mr. Belding, of course!) – are starting freshman year at Bayside High, trading in brick phones and mullets for iPhones and Twitter accounts. Does Lisa’s fashion show get on the air, and will Screech ever leave her alone? Will Jessie get that A+? And, most importantly, who’s Kelly going to go out with – preppy Zack or new star athlete A.C. Slater? It’s alright, ‘cause we’re saved by the bell!

Review

I must admit, that I would love to get more into graphic novels and comics, and while normally this is aimed at a younger audience than me, I couldn't resist reading this volume of 'Saved by the Bell' comics. I LOVED this show when I was younger, even 'the new class' that came after Zack and co. - though obviously my childhood crush on Zack obviously means that the original cast were the best :D

While this is nostalgic, it is bought up to date with the huge mobile phones of the past replaced with the slim touchscreen phones you see today, ready for the characters to blog, vlog and use social media, just like we do today. In fact one of the funniest moments in the book is when Zack scoffs at the size of the brick mobile phones from the 80/90's, which may not seem funny in itself but was a nod to the TV series, where Zack Morris himself had such a phone!

The characters are exactly as they should be and while the old references and knowledge of the show are wonderful, the stories are funny in themselves. The artwork is stylish, colourful and vibrant, really popping out from the page.

Each comic is short and sweet, packed full of humour and keeps the essence of what made the show one of my favourites from that time. If you're my age and hadn't watched the show when it was originally on, then you may not get the same enjoyment I did, but if you enjoyed the show, or are a young teenager, then this is a great collection of comics that is perfect for a fun read, that is a great alternative to a short story. This book brings back such great memories; I really really enjoyed it.

Order on Amazon now!

Published by: Roar Comics, Lion Forge
Gratefully received from the Publisher for review.

Kate and Alf by Carrie Stone

Synopsis

Kate loves Alf. And Alf loves Kate… Doesn’t he?

Kate can’t wait for her long-term boyfriend Alf to propose. So he might be a bit of a control freak who’s obsessed with his career … and he also seems to have conveniently forgotten their two-year plan to get married, buy a bigger house and have children. But Kate’s sure that ring will be on her finger soon.

When her thirty-second birthday ends in humiliating, proposal-less disaster, even Kate is left wondering if Alf really is The One. Then Alf’s friend, Marcus, needs a place to stay. With his dark eyes, easygoing manner and kind concern for Kate, Marcus is everything Alf is not - and it's not long before Kate begins to wonder if there’s more to life than diamonds.

Review

The cover of this book is absolutely stunning. It’s beautiful blend of the bliue night sky into pink, the silhouette and the big moon with the pretty font is simply perfection.

On the book’s contents however I had mixed feelings. For the most part I enjoyed it. The writing is really good and easy to read but there’s part of me that also feels a little frustrated and I think this was mostly down to Alf, and in part, Kate.

Where do I start with Alf? There was nothing likable in him in the first half of the book, and then in the second half there are glimmers of hope for a few pages, but then he goes back to being annoying and selfish!

He is so sure that he ‘knows’ Kate and completely oblivious that she might prefer something different, not helped by Kate and Alf’s complete communication failure, which isn’t entirely Alf’s fault, but it’s more how he constantly tells Kate that he knows her, why is he trying to convince her, why not show her? By, I don’t know actually doing something for her for once. Instead he just grumbles to himself how annoying Kate is by having a glass of wine with his friend (whose staying with them) and SHOCK HORROR, there wasn’t even a dinner prepared. Are we back in the 1950’s now? He seems to want someone to be the perfect little housewife and agree with him on everything. God forbid they have an interest outside of his ideals.
Take Kate’s art for instance, you first see an instance of his obvious disinterest in her old hobby, and does this throughout the book. He just was unbelievably unsupportive, he didn’t comment on it, just tolerated it as if it was a phase that people go through and soon Kate would grow out of it and continues on her mission to put dinner on the table as is her duty. In some obscure way, in what he said to her, reminded me of Old Salem if they were paranoid about painting instead of witchcraft.

Kate on the whole is quite likable, nothing massively stands out about her, but she is reasonably relatable, but I cannot figure out why she has been with Alf for 7 years. Inside she realises he’s not treating her nicely with her artwork and various other things, but, due to her exceptional kindness (which it feels we’re constantly reminded of), she just takes it and convinces herself that she loves him. As I said they don’t really communicate effectively, and when they argue, nothing really gets resolved. I don’t think I could stay for 7 years convincing myself everything is hunky-dory.

As I said for the most part (despite my ranting) I enjoyed this book, I really liked the side characters especially Lil and Viv, and I really really liked the epilogue! I would definitely read Carrie Stone’s books in the future.

Order on Amazon now!

Published by: HarperImpulse
Gratefully received from the Publisher for review.

A Very Big House in the Country by Claire Sandy

Synopsis

For one long hot summer in Devon, three families are sharing one very big house in the country. The Herreras: made up of two tired parents, three grumbling children and one promiscuous dog; the Littles: he's loaded (despite two divorces and five kids), she's gorgeous, but maybe the equation for a truly happy marriage is a bit more complicated than that; and the Browns, who seem oddly jumpy around people, but especially each other. 

By the pool, new friendships blossom; at the aga door, resentments begin to simmer. Secret crushes are formed and secret cigarettes cadged by the teens, as the adults loosen their inhibitions with litres of white wine and start to get perhaps a little too honest ... 

Mother hen to all, Evie Herreras has a life-changing announcement to make, one that could rock the foundations of her family. But will someone else beat her to it?

Review

After reading 'What would Mary Berry do?' I had high hopes for this book, hoping it would follow on the funny, warm nature of that book, and I was not disappointed. The setting of Wellcome Manor was wonderful and sounds luxurious and exactly like the houses I like looking up on rightmove and dream of buying with my millions. So Ideallic!

This book also had a lot of laughs, but has far more mystery and intrigue. Every family has secrets and this book had a good way of tricking you at almost every turn, of all the things that were hinted at, I think there was only one where I was somewhat close (but not correct), you do keep wondering, and that made me change my mind about characters several times.

The main character Evie was one such character. For the most part she is warm and the typical mother hen type, but with a slightly more open mind to her teenage daughter's relationship with the handsome Zach than I expected. I loved the kids; Mabel especially was hilarious.

Her best friend Shen is almost the typical spoilt wife with lots of money, a fiery, straightforward personality and a baby that she can barely be bothered to look after, thanks to the help of nanny, Elizabetta. I even warmed to her husband Clive more, and he was worse than she was at times.

The third family that joined Evie and Shen's was the greatest mystery of them all, and while Paula drove you buts with her nervous disposition, why she was this way was quite a shock!

I don’t feel that I can say much more about this book without giving away one of the many secrets held within, but this book is one of my favourite reads this year.

Order on Amazon now!

Published by: Pan Macmillan
Gratefully received from the Publisher for review.

I Knew You Were Trouble by Paige Toon

Synopsis

Sunshine, rock gods and Hollywood hearthrobs! Jessie Jefferson is back in the next instalment from bestselling author Paige Toon. Perfect for fans of Geek Girl, Jessica Cole and Girl Online.

Life as the undercover daughter of a rock god isn't going to be easy. How will Jessie adjust to her old boring life again after spending her summer living it up with her dad in LA? With tough decisions ahead (and not just choosing between two hot boys), can she cope juggling her two very different lives? 

Summer may be over, but Jessie's story is just beginning…

Review

Firstly, let me say that the new covers that have been designed for this book and the first book 'The Accidental life of Jessie Jefferson' are absolutely fantastic, suit the book to a tea, and while I liked the original cover of book 1, this one is definitely more current and eye-catching, so kudos to the designer  Also this can be read as a stand alone easily, but I do suggest you read the first book as it is fantastic!

This book picks up a few weeks after book 1 and Jessie is starting another school year, and trying to keep the secret that she is the daughters of a rock god. Jessie seems to have settled down a lot in terms of how she is acting, especially with her step-father Stu, you saw a real bond there, which was really touching at times. 

She gets a new boyfriend, Tom who seems really charming and good looking, the dream guy you want as your school sweetheart. This does bring out some of Jessie's recklessness from book 1, so it's nice to see that she hasn't magically grown up overnight and matured more than her 15 years. The development is believable, and shows great progression in the short time we've known Jessie.

I think the scenes in the U.K. were my favourite, but L.A. certainly makes me envious of not being out there in the sun, eating at all the delicious restaurants and sitting out by the pool in the afternoon! Seeing Meg and Johnny again from Paige's adult books was also a treat, and I am still not sure I can get used to seeing Johnny act like a 'proper' dad and not the Rock star he is in those books. This doesn't effect the book at all, I just find myself smiling at times when he acts protective, and Jessie herself finds this ironic at times.

While in L.A. she meets up with all her old friends, including her crush, Jack. The tension between them is palpable, and I found myself fighting with myself who I thought would be best for Jessie.

It's perfectly summery, and this was the perfect sequel for Jessie, and I can't wait for the third in the series to be released. 

Order on Amazon now!

Published by: Simon and Schuster UK
Gratefully received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Daughter's Secret by Eva Holland

Synopsis

My daughter is a liar. A liar, liar, liar. And I'm starting to see where she gets it from.

When Rosalind's fifteen-year-old daughter, Stephanie, ran away with her teacher, this ordinary family became something it had never asked to be. Their lives held up to scrutiny in the centre of a major police investigation, the Simms were headline news while Stephanie was missing with a man who was risking everything.

Now, six years on, Ros takes a call that will change their lives all over again. He's going to be released from prison. Years too early. In eleven days' time.

As Temperley's release creeps ever closer, Ros is forced to confront the events that led them here, back to a place she thought she'd left behind, to questions she didn't want to answer. Why did she do it? Where does the blame lie? What happens next?

Review

This book’s synopsis was instantly appealing to me, seeming to fit into the mysteries and thrillers I have been reading more of over the past year or so. This book to me was different to how I expected it though. I was expecting it to be more mysterious and joining Ros uncovering the secrets and lies that her daughter, Stephanie might have. While the past was slightly mysterious, I was expecting more twist and turns on the way. 

That said, I found it compelling reading as the characterisation was absolutely superb. Each character was complex with there own flaws. The flaws I found very prominent in each character, and we all have them, but they were so that I didn’t really like any of the characters. This didn’t put me off the book at all, as they were all fascinating. 
The father seemed more concerned about image and how people outside would view his family, and threw himself away from the family almost in disdain at times it seemed.  Stephanie seemed grown up most of the time, but at times almost child-like, and I suppose this is growing up with Rosalind as a mother. 

I don’t necessarily think Ros was a bad mother, but her inner thoughts were terrifying. She suffers from paranoia and anxiety about bad stuff happening to her children beyond what I believe to be normal. From stuff like, driving your child to a school trip behind their school coach as the tyres on the coach look too worn (even when reassured they’re only a couple of months old) to the even more unlikely scenario of something falling from the sky, and through the house to where her children are sat. This occurred before the situation with Stephanie, so it seems like the children were a bit mollycoddled growing up, and actually I would have loved to read more from their childhood to see how far it went. 

Obviously everyone is concerned what happens to their children, but what surprises me the most really was that Ros didn’t seek any help from anyone. Dan was all to happy to send Stephanie off to a rehab clinic when he thought she had an alcohol problem, but seemed oblivious to his wife’s problems, or at least not concerned enough. She hid it, but even when Dan found out she was keeping her children off school at times because of the worry and anxieties she was feeling, he just let it go… All very puzzling. However, it’s this very thing that drew me into the book, and made me compelled to read further. Seeing what she was thinking, and her panic was what kept the tension up, rather than it being a mystery to discover secrets. 

I had to read the last page or two a few times, and, even now, I’m still not sure that I am satisfied that I know what the the conclusion was. However, I realise many books in this genre have an open ending similar to this one, and lots of people will really like this. 

Overall though, this is a great debut novel, it was a compelling read that kept me hooked till the end.

Order on Amazon now!

Published by: Orion
Gratefully received from the Publisher for review.