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After a very quiet May & June I have certainly caught up on my reading goal over the last two months. July and August have been my best reading months so far this year, however the reads were all a little mediocre. Don’t’ get me wrong I enjoyed them all, but there wasn’t a single standout book you know! Keep reading to see what I thought. Also note I try to keep my reviews spoiler free, although that recently made me realise they might come across as a bit vague sometimes; apologies if that’s the case.

Anyway, here’s my July & August wrap-up:

1. Imposter – L.J. Ross (audiobook)

There’s a killer inside all of us…

In the beautiful hills of County Mayo, Ireland, a killer is on the loose. Panic has a stranglehold on its rural community and the Garda are running out of time. Gregory has sworn to follow a quiet life but, when the call comes, can he refuse to help their desperate search for justice?

Murder and mystery are peppered with dark humour in this fast-paced thriller set amidst the spectacular Irish landscape.

3.75 STARS: This was my first L.J. Ross book and overall I rather enjoyed it. Most detective/crime novels I read are always nice easy reads to get caught up in with enough suspense to keep you guessing along; and Imposter, by L.J. Ross didn’t disappoint. Ross’ writing style is easy to follow, flows well, and I liked her protagonist well enough, but only well enough aha. I think I found certain character traits of his a bit questionable I guess, but then again we’re all only human. Anyway, it’s a good story to switch off with but I will have to admit that I wasn’t enamoured enough to want to buy the rest of the books to continue with the series. Then again, I do plan on reading more of her books as my dad owns her whole DC Ryan series, which is based her in the North East of England where I live, and he thoroughly enjoyed them, so I am looking forward to giving them a go.

2. Say No More – Caroline Overington (audiobook)

A tragic, traumatic childhood casts a long shadow on the Hoedemaker sisters. Maureen has worked hard to move beyond the violence of the past and build a good, honest life for herself. Audrey, however, just can’t seem to do the same, careening from one state of chaos to another.

Maureen loves her sister, but when Audrey’s criminal past catches up to them both, she will have to make some difficult decisions about the limits of family loyalty – and just how far sisters are willing to go to protect each other…

4 STARS: This was a surprisingly good listen. I didn’t know what to expect from the blurb or the beginning of the narrative and admittedly felt a little confused at times as to where the story was going. However it moved at a good pace and kept me intrigued to the very end when the most unexpected plot twist transpired! Didn’t see it coming at all which loved. It’s great when a book takes you completely by surprise and this is what made me bumpm the story up to a 4 Star. It’s a relatively short audio too – at about 5 1/2hs I would definitely recommend a listen.

3. Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) – Tahereh Mafi (book)

With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all.

Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.

3.75 STARS: I was looking forward to this sequel because we finally get some proper interaction between Juliette and Warner which is the storyline I was most excited about, and that side of things didn’t disappoint. Also hello Warner! I loved Warners personality and discovering that perhaps not everything about him was the way it first seemed. I’ve adored his tone of voice from the start, although when I stop to think about it, it does perhaps seem a bit too old a fit for a what 18/19 year old? Juliette also comes out of her shell more and starts leaning into her powers more and believing in herself which is nice to see cause we all like some empowerment. Kenji – who doesn’t love Kenji and his big heart that just bursts with warmth, loyalty and laughter. Adam – meh – I’m sorry but he admittedly irritated me in this book as did Juliette to be fair at certain points. I think sometimes I forget that the protagonists are still only young adults and perhaps their behaviour is fitting for their age, but then again I just keep hoping to see more maturity displayed too.

4. Restore Me (Shatter Me #4) – Tahereh Mafi (book)

Juliette Ferrars thought she’d won. She took over Sector 45, was named the new Supreme Commander, and now has Warner by her side. But she’s still the girl with the ability to kill with a single touch—and now she’s got the whole world in the palm of her hand. When tragedy hits, who will she become? Will she be able to control the power she wields and use it for good?

3.5 STARS: The fourth installment felt a bit lacklustre. Juliette seems to backtrack and turns back into this naive little girl again suddenly realising she has to fill boots too big to fit and it was just kinda laughable or rather unrealistic. Like what were all the adult figures doing and why weren’t they taking more charge? Even Warner, as admirable as his blif in Juliette is, it’s completely insane to think someone with zero experience is fit to suddenly run the reestablishment. Also, why were soo many secrets still being kept between all characters?! The drama due to lack of communication was just so infuriating – I think I have a real ick for miscommunication haha. But once again Mafi knows how to write a cliffhanger and after a mediocre book I’m still left wanting to know how the story continues.

5. A Touch Of Malice (Hades & Persephone #3) – Scarlett St. Clair (audiobook)

Persephone and Hades are engaged. In retaliation, Demeter summons a snowstorm that cripples New Greece, and refuses to lift the blizzard unless her daughter calls off her engagement.

When the Olympians intervene, Persephone finds her future in the hands of ancient gods, and they are divided. Do they allow Persephone to marry Hades and go to war with Demeter or prohibit their union and take up arms against the God of the Dead?

Nothing is certain but the promise of war.

3.5 STARS: Book three in the Hades & Persephone series was marginally better than book 2. I like that Persephone is working on herself to gain more confidence and control of her magic, but then elements of her and Hades relationship are still very frustrating, when it appears they haven’t learnt from previous mistakes and and are back to being at odds with each other due to bad communication. To be fair, bad communication is a thing in general that irritates me a plenty in stories, as so many problematic scenarios could be avoided if only people communicated better. Anyway, I do like some of the sideline character such as Hermès and Apollo and overall it is still and easy listen and enjoyable enough audiobook. I just hope the next installment finally makes Persephone a bit more of a powerhouse – I love a strong female lead and don’t mind if it takes time for characters to grown into their skin, but we’re not there yet with this series and I’m starting to get a bit bored.

6. Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1) – Louise Penny (book)

The discovery of a dead body in the woods on Thanksgiving Weekend brings Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his colleagues from the Surete du Quebec to a small village in the Eastern Townships. Gamache cannot understand why anyone would want to deliberately kill well-loved artist Jane Neal, especially any of the residents of Three Pines – a place so free from crime it doesn’t even have its own police force.

But Gamache knows that evil is lurking somewhere behind the white picket fences and that, if he watches closely enough, Three Pines will start to give up its dark secrets…

3.75 STARS: This was my reading holiday book and I enjoyed it. Another detective/crime novel to work through and another first book in a detective series, which I didn’t find our till later. I really liked the detective Armand Gamache. He was friendly, yet firm, encouraging and supportive, took no nonsense and was observant in such a relaxed manner that you’d almost forget he was supposed to be solving a murder sometimes. The book was definitely a slow burner because of this – no hectic chasing, just quiet detecting. I enjoyed the pace – it was enough to keep me hooked in and there were plenty of characters and possible motives to explore. Saying that, I was disappointed in the ultimate finale of the book. Although I didn’t guess guess the culprit correctly, I also feel like it wasn’t the most exciting resolution.
As I rather enjoyed the character of detective Gamache, I would probably give another book in this series a go, however, it also wasn’t amazing enough to be a priority compared to my huge TBR pile. I will pass this book onto my dad though to get a second option – I’m curious to see what he thinks.

7. Nightshade (Nightshade #1) – Keri Lake (audiobook)

Nightshade follows Farryn Ravenshaw as she is drawn into a shadowy world of ancient rituals, a mysterious realm called Nightshade, and the enigmatic Jericho, a recluse with a connection to her father’s disappearance. As Farryn investigates her family’s past and confronts a dark cult, she discovers a birthmark that links her to Nightshade and a terrifying reality about her own connection to Jericho and the supernatural forces at play

3.5 STARS: I was sadly a little underwhelmed by my second Keri Lake book. I enjoyed the duality of storylines but was a little confused by the world building. I also wasn’t a fan of the abusive male dominance and how quickly Farryn seems to suddenly just accept him. Yes there’s a bit of a fight back from her initially, but not enough romantic tension building in my eyes if it was supposed to radiate a hate to love kinda vibe. I was also just so done with the steamy smut scenes haha; they just didn’t do anything for me at all in this book. I think it’s because the protagonists just hadn’t lured in me as much in this book; I felt no emotional connection and just didn’t really care for them. I know there’s a second in this series and I rarely ever dnf things so I will still read part two at some point, but I’m in no hurry to.

8. Defy Me (Shatter Me #5) – Tahereh Mafi (book)

Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of the other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her – secrets that change everything.

Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge.

3.75 STARS: Ok I have mixed feelings about this. The whole world building feels a little feeble in general throughout the series. Mafi tends to be more character driven and thus we still haven’t witnessed any epic battles or big events. I feel like we get buildup to supposedly pivotal moments and then plotlines just jump forward quite suddenly with lack of backup. We move on from book fours huge cliffhanger, are plated a book of revelations and yet I still feel like I’m missing the whole point of the reestablishment and enemy purpose a little. I didn’t mind the flashbacks and thrown curveball of no one really knew what was going on most of their lives having lived a big fat lie. It created more intrigue and added more plot depth, but now I’m just hoping the last installment will finally bring all loose ends together and create a worthy ending.

I’m way to late to post my May & June reads but it was such a busy few month getting ready for our rebrand at work that I barely had any energy left to read or get this post together. Here’s what I did manage to work my way through:

1. The Let Them Theory – Mel Robbins (audiobook)

What if the key to happiness, success, and love was as simple as two words? If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn’t you. The problem is the power you give to other people.

Two simple words—Let Them—will set you free. Free from the opinions, drama, and judgments of others. Free from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. The Let Them Theory puts the power to create a life you love back in your hands—and this book will show you exactly how to do it.

4 STARS:

I barely ever read non-fiction books but after seeing someone recommend this, I thought it might be an interesting read for me as I definitely struggle with some of the topics this book covers.

Although not all examples were relevant to me, others really hit home. It was a refreshing listen and although we’re often aware that we’re not alone in our struggles, it’s always comforting to hear from others going through or having experienced similar things. The Let Them Theory is a good reminder to start taking charge of your on happiness but it’s easier said than done. The phrase Let Them is in the forefront of my mind since reading this book and I try and live more by aiming to let go of things.

2. A Touch of Ruin (Hades & Persephone, #2) – St. Clair, Scarlett (audiobook)

Persephone’s relationship with Hades has gone public and the resulting media storm disrupts her normal life and threatens to expose her as the Goddess of Spring.

Things only get worse when a horrible tragedy leaves Persephone’s heart in ruin and Hades refusing to help. Desperate, she takes matters into her own hands, striking bargains with severe consequences.

Faced with a side of Hades she never knew and crushing loss, Persephone wonders if she can truly become Hades’ queen.

3 STARS:

A little underwhelming if I’m honest. In book 2 of Hades & Persephone I just found myself getting irritated at Persephone. The tragedy involving her best friend took me by surprise admittedly, but her consequent behaviour just came across as whiney and immature. I believe she’s supposed to be in her early 20’s so I suppose a certain level of immaturity can still be expected, but her ‘I’ll do my own thing regardless of what other think’ attitude that disregards everyone around her just really irked me in this book.

3. Ugly Love – Colleen Hoover (book)

When Tate meets Miles, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. In fact, the only thing they have in common is this undeniable mutual attraction. They soon realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex.

Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

But can they handle it?

3.75 STARS:

Overall I really enjoyed Ugly Love, although not as much as Verity, my first Colleen Hoover read, which held more tension.

This book is written in present tense as well as through flashbacks and although I’m not always a big fan of long backflashes, the dual narratives worked well for me in Ugly Love. It made it a slow burn that kept feeding me little snippets to keep me hooked.

To me this book explores, love after tragedy and how we allow ourselves, or not, to move on as well as the irrational belief of having something with someone is better than nothing.

I know a lot of people look at the two protagonists and think of Miles as abusive and Tate as a woman with no self worth, and whilst they’re not completely wrong, I also find there’s more depth to these characters and their emotions and things are rarely black and white. Depending on ones own life experiences and character we will all relate differently to the protagonists and their behaviour.

4. Piglet – Hazell Lottie (kindle)

Together, Kit and Piglet are the picture of domestic bliss – effortless hosts, planning a covetable wedding… But if a life looks too good to be true, it probably is. Thirteen days before they are due to be married, Kit reveals an awful truth, cracking the façade Piglet has created.

“An elegant, razor-sharp debut about women’s ambitions and appetites — and the truth about having it all“

“A stylish, uncommonly clever novel about the things we want and the things we think we want”

4.5 STARS:

What a book! Piglets story is that of someone seemingly lost in the motions and clawing to keep perfection contained the life they had so meticulously built up around themselves comes crashing down. Although Piglet was an uncomfortable read, it left an impact.

I wasn’t a fan of the protagonist or any of the characters for that matter. I found myself quick to negatively judge their actions and how they delt with the situations that arose. It was interesting though to experience this emotional reaction though and dig deeper into why this story was making me react.

The whole book is very much written through the eyes of Piglets appreciation for good food which is described so beautifully it makes you want to join her on a feast of culinary delights. Hazell brings a delightfully sensuous touch to the topics covered in Piglet and her sublime depictions almost distract from the darker undertone. There is a fine balance trying to be upheld and the lines between enjoyment, indulgence, comfort seeking and overindulgence start to blur.

At it’s core I feel that Piglet explores the notion of what is/brings happiness? Hazell tackles topics of self worth, family dynamics, feelings of belonging, money struggles, a clash of classes and upbringing, dream life vs reality and our vices for escapism, all the while probing us on of how we choose to cope with said issues. I feel like this could be love/hate read – but if you’ve read it, I’ love to know your thoughts.