Book reviews – Page 8 – The Queens of Geekdom

How Do You Like Me Now? By @holly_bourneYA #Hanreview

Release date: 14.7.2018

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Description: ‘Turning thirty is like playing musical chairs. The music stops, and everyone just marries whoever they happen to be sitting on.’

Who the f*ck is Tori Bailey?

There’s no doubt that Tori is winning the game of life. A straight-talking, bestselling author, she’s inspired millions of women around the world with her self-help memoir. And she has the perfect relationship to boot.

But Tori Bailey has been living a lie.

Her long-term boyfriend won’t even talk about marriage, but everyone around her is getting engaged and having babies. And when her best friend Dee – her plus one, the only person who understands the madness – falls in love, suddenly Tori’s in terrifying danger of being left behind.

When the world tells you to be one thing and turning thirty brings with it a loud ticking clock, it takes courage to walk your own path.

It’s time for Tori to practice what she’s preached, but the question is: is she brave enough?

The debut adult novel by bestselling author Holly Bourne is a blisteringly funny, honest and moving exploration of love, friendship and navigating the emotional rollercoaster of your thirties.

First thoughts

I fucking love this book. It’s raw, unapologetically honest and brutally real when it comes to life as a 30 something woman in the age of social media.

While I knew I would love Holly’s book; her work is always incredible I was not expecting to finish it and feel so understood.

Characters

Tori will be a character that divides readers; and it makes me love her all the more. She hasn’t been created to tick boxes and please everyone.

She’s relatable and likeable; she’s the Bridget Jones for Gen X (I am 2 months away from 32; I refused to be labelled a millennial) I want to go for a drink with Tori, I want to go for many drinks with Tori.

She’s not perfect, she’s a bit of a fuck up and a little emotionally unsettled (read: sexually frustrated, angry and very fucking confused). However, I feel that is very much a side effect of her environment and I’m already pondering her life outside the novel’s ending.

Tom. I’m unsure as to what to make of him and I can’t trust my own judgement because I’m on the outside looking in, with only Tori’s thought process to guide me.

Honestly, I think he’s a prick and I’d be picking… Only that’s not true. Yes, I still think he’s a prick; I know I would limit my confrontations as Tori does.

I don’t want to tarnish all men with the same brush, but in my experience all my boyfriends have been akin to Tom. I almost felt that there was just enough left out of his character to allow for an element of projection.

Plot

You do see where the book will go; you sense the ending. And by sense, I mean you know, but you’ll slow down your reading hoping that will stop the pain. That’s no bad thing because, certainly for me, it’s not really about what outcome we get; it how Tori gets there. Holly has a wonderful ability to give us not what we want, but what we need.

It’s a wonderful episodic narrative that is tied together with a number of story arcs that help Tori question her relationship and personal fulfilment.

The most important part for me, is some of the difficult sections of the book. This, my friends, is not the Notebook. It’s also not an episode of Sex and the City. Tori’s descriptions of her relationship with Tom will hit a nerve, they challenge you to question what a healthy relationship with yourself and others looks like.

There’s one scene which brought back memories of my previous relationship (I lie, MANY scenes brought back that relationship. Fuck, at one point I felt like Holly had taken a nose dive into my pensieve); one in which I was reluctant to leave. It hit me like a wall of PTSD before realising; shit, it’s not just me.

Some would argue that a person would not stay in a relationship with so many unresolved issues as mentioned in the description. Well, as a women who has contemplated becoming a raccoon lady; If I’m going down that path, I will not become a walking clique (that and all my friends hate cats) I would have to disagree. The internal battle of Tori is a real as breathing.

Writing

Holly has always had a wonderful writing style; engaging, funny and relevant. However, this is something else.

My reading of the first few chapters was staggered only because I had to stop every page to fire off a quote to my best friend and co-blogger.

There’s an ease and comfort in reading How Do You Like Me Now? I loved both Sex and the City and Bridget Jones has I was approaching adulthood, but it was never talking to me and it felt like fiction; almost fantasy. Where as Holly has taken the world of taboo (let’s face it, female masterbation and women wanting sex are still things we could be chastised for bringing up depending on our social circle) and given women of Gen X a hero who is as fucked up as we are.

I Am Thunder by @Mkhanauthor #hanreview

I Am Thunder by Muhammad Khan

Release date: 25.01.2028

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Good reads

Description: Fifteen-year-old Muzna Saleem is passionate about writing and dreams of becoming a novelist. There’s just one problem – her super-controlling parents have already planned her life out for her:

Step 1) Get educated

Step 2) Qualify as a doctor

Step 3) Marry a cousin from Pakistan. Oh, and boyfriends are totally haram.

No one is more surprised than humble Muzna when high school hottie, Arif Malik, takes an interest in her. But Arif and his brother are angry at the West for demonizing Islam and hiding a terrible secret. As Arif begins to lead Muzna down a dark path, she faces a terrible choice: keep quiet and betray her beliefs, or speak up and betray her heart?

I Am Thunder is the debut novel from stunning YA voice, Muhammad Khan, which questions how far you’ll go to stand up for what you believe.

Characters

Muzna is our protagonist within I am Thunder. She is a wonderfully strong voice. She is relatable and inclusive, no matter the background of the reader.

It is powerful to know I’m one of the first people to connect with Muzna and that, come January, all the Muslim and Pakistani girls I teach who have been reading Moxie will be reading this.

I love that even during the events, events that some might argue a weakness in character, she remains strong. She’s the preverbal frog within the slowly boiling pan.

Arif is an interesting and complex character. His charming exterior does disarm you along with Muzna. I want to really like him, but he’s almost too good to be true.

I don’t think I could review without talking about Muzna’s parents. It’s hard to blame them for what happens to Muzna, especially as we only see them from her perspective. It’s clear they care for her, but Muzna is frustrated by their perspective of the world and it’s certainly a problem many teens will relate with.

Plot

The plot is empowering and akin to the struggles many people face when it comes to religion. There was even echoes to the journey Malcolm X went through to discover the true meaning of Islam.

Muzna is on a path to spiritual discovery. On the way, she questions the authority of people’s interpretations of the faith and how that makes one a true Muslim.

This is not a question unique to Islam, but it is a topical discourse that perhaps needs an answer.

It’s a brave look into terrorism and Islamaphobia with enough insight to make all people question what is going on in the world.

Writing

The writing is wonderfully colloquial. It also integrates Islam’s key phrases without isolating or patronising any potential audience.

The writing gives Muzna a real voice; she’s the path to understanding what young Muslim’s go through in our mixed up world.

This is a MUST read for anyone and everyone.

Been Here All Along by @iamsandyhall

Been Here All Along by @iamsandyhall

Buy me here https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1509852808/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508718458&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=been+here+all+along&dpPl=1&dpID=41QWT3PkUvL&ref=plSrch

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35660588?source=ebfg_sms

Description: Gideon always has a plan. His plans include running for class president, becoming head of the yearbook committee, and having his choice of colleges. They do NOT include falling head over heels for his best friend and next door neighbor, Kyle. It’s a distraction. It’s pointless, as Kyle is already dating the gorgeous and popular head cheerleader, Ruby. And Gideon doesn’t know what to do…

Kyle finally feels like he has a handle on life. He has a wonderful girlfriend, a best friend willing to debate the finer points of Lord of the Rings, and social acceptance as captain of the basketball team. Then, both Ruby and Gideon start acting really weird, just as his spot on the team is threatened, and Kyle can’t quite figure out what he did wrong…

Characters

There are four characters in which this story follows; Gideon and Kyle being the primary voices, while Ruby and Ezra allow us to see outside our main characters’ scope.

My favourite character is Gideon; sweet geek who works hard and likes things ordered. While something he overcomes with ease, his fear leading up to reveals and disclosures makes him beautifully vulnerable.

Kyle is brave, honest and rather against stereotype. The challenges he faces and how he approaches them is very true to life; certainly coming from the other side of the classroom.

Plot

Good chunk romance, a little bit of accidental revenge and a low key important message about undiagnosed health issues and the impact they have on the person.

It’s a complex storyline that is told with ease, joy and charm. One thread was predictable; but that says more about society and relationships than the plot of this book.

There’s a solid end that will allow your own imagination to spin stories of Gideon and Kyle’s lives for as long as they remain in your heart.

Writing

There is something elegant and charming about Sandy’s writing. When I’d read A Little Something Different, I proceeded to buy it for everyone and their aunt.

This is no exception. Not many people can pull off writing from multiple perspectives; certainly not four. However Sandy does it as if it is as easy as breathing, and reading it feels like a perfect autumnal evening with hot chocolate and a blanket.

The Lost Causes by Aylssa Ebree Schwartz and Jessica Koosed Etting

The Lost Causes by Aylssa Ebree Schwartz and Jessica Koosed Etting
Release date: 7.9.2017
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Goodreads

Description:
Misfits. Outcasts. And the only ones who can find a killer.

They’re the last people you’d ask to help with anything, much less a murder investigation. The rich girl, the obsessive, the hypochondriac, the addict and the hot-tempered athlete—people think they’re beyond help. Lost causes. But where the world sees losers, the FBI sees its only hope.

With the help of a dangerous serum, the FBI erases the teens’ past problems and unlocks a psychic ability within each of them. In return, all they have to do is help find the killer who’s turned their small town upside down.

But as they close in on a suspect, they expose a conspiracy that puts them directly in harm’s way and makes them wonder who—if anyone—they can really trust.

If anything happens to them, will anyone even care?

Characters
The five central characters are wonderfully flawed teens that are a reminiscent blend of the Scoobies from Buffy, the kids working at Empire Records and the detentionites from Breakfast Club.
The bring the book to live and are the key reason you become so involved with the book.

My favourite of the five is Z, but it is FBI agent and swoon worthy Nash that is my new book crush. He’s everything you want in an agent made to turn teen heads. Sabrina’s feelings and opinions about Nash also help you crush on him, just that little more.

Plot
It’s a crime thriller plot with an added supernatural element. There is enough mystery and obstacles to keep you guessing about who is the perp right until the end. There’s also enough tension to ensure the book is a page turner from start to finish.

Writing
It may take a while to get into this multi-person narrative. Each character takes on the voice of one of the five teens and it’s a struggle at first while you’re figuring out each narrator but you quickly get into the swing of it and it adds a depth to each character that you will love.

Freshers by Tom Ellen and @lucyivison ‏

Freshers by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison
Release date: 3.8.2017
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Description: Uni beckons. Phoebe can’t wait to be a fresher – especially since her crush from school will be there too. She’ll be totally different at Uni: cooler, prettier, smarter … the perfect potential girlfriend. She’ll reinvent herself completely. But Luke’s oblivious, still reeling from the fallout of the break-up with his ex. Thrown head first into a world of new friends, parties and social media disasters – can Phoebe and Luke survive the year, let alone find each other?

Characters

The two main characters work well together in order to tell this story of their first half term in York Uni.
Phoebe is a wonderful geeky girl who has a brilliant personal development throughout the autumnal season in a different part of the country, far from home. Her group of friends, and flat mates, are an eclectic group who might not have gave each other the time of day in High School. It’s true of freshers week and life in halls.
Luke is not an unlikeable character. You can see why Phoebe’s friends might have reservations about him; his actions are not those of someone you would trust. However, they are not privy to his inner most thoughts. While they are, at times, inconsistent and shows him very confused; it is perhaps a true reflection of a young man’s mind at this time of life.
Luke’s flat mates and friends re funny and likeable, but you don’t feel the emotional connection like you get with Phoebe and her friends.

Plot

The is so much to identify with in this coming of age plot. We don’t have the presence of any parents (I’m excluding those who appear through phone calls) and it really adds to the independent element of the plot.
While it could be considered a ‘romance’, I believe it would do this story a disservice to describe it at that; there is so much more to it than that. You will be very happy with the development of the plot, the twists and the final resolution.
I’m very satisfied with how the book ends, however I certainly wouldn’t say no to a sequel, spin off or literally anything that perhaps shows the final months of third year uni.

Writing

I love how much this book flows. There are two distinct voices; Phoebe and Luke. It would be easy to assume that the authors took a character each, however there’s a stylistic unity to the points of view that implies the writing was a little more complex than that.
It’s writing is flawless and engaging. I’m utterly captivated and curious about the writing process. There’s no literary indicators of there being two writers. I’m about to find out what else they’ve done and what is in the works.

The Demon Road by Derek Landy

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Details: Full of Landy’s trademark wit, action and razor sharp dialogue, DEMON ROAD kicks off with a shocking opener and never lets up the pace in an epic road-trip across the supernatural landscape of America. Killer cars, vampires, undead serial killers: they’re all here. And the demons? Well, that’s where Amber comes in…Sixteen years old, smart and spirited, she’s just a normal American teenager until the lies are torn away and the demons reveal themselves.

Forced to go on the run, she hurtles from one threat to another, revealing a tapestry of terror woven into the very fabric of her life. Her only chance rests with her fellow travellers, who are not at all what they appear to be

AMAZING!
I was desperate to read this before I saw him talk at the event in Bham New St Waterstones, and Ben from Harper kindly sent me an advanced copy which I finished the night before the event :)The premise of a sixteen yr old girl finding out she’s a demon is cool, add in the fact that her parents are trying to kill her and that the only way she might survive is to go on an epic road trip through the “demon roads” with a mysterious guy and an even more mysterious car. It is pure genius, and really honours the classic American horror authors like Stephen King and Joe Hill. DL himself said his inspiration was SK and Wes Craven (RIP) as well as numerous others which is really cool.
It’s dark, twisty, gory, inventive, and downright awesome.
If you’re a fan of skulduggery you will know that DL is fantastic at writing a duo of an older guy and a teen girl (in a non pervy way!!) and that he always has an element of comedy in the stories too. Demon Road has all three of these aspects yet is totally different from SP.
Read it. Read it now.

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands
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This book is AWESOME!
It’s full of excitement, danger, mystery and is so fast paced I read it in one sitting.
I was instantly drawn to Christopher and his best friend Tom, they have a great level of camaraderie and their conversations are hilarious and made me laugh out loud throughout the whole book.
The plot is inventive, the characters are fantastic and I absolutely loved the historical setting; it’s so well described and full of little details that it really did transport me back in time (and actually has made me want to read more about that particular period of time as I usually focus on Tudor times!).
This book is perfect for fans of Harry Potter, Skulduggery Pleasant, Lockwood & Co and Artemis Fowl – essentially it is the new *Must Read* middle grade book and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

The People vs Alex Cross by James Patterson #gemreview @gemlovesbooks

The People vs Alex Cross
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Release date: 2.11.2017

I have been a huge fan of James Patterson’s Alex Cross books since by aunty lent me her copy of Cat and Mouse almost twenty years ago.

It’s been a long road, full of danger, love, kidnapping, shootings, serial killers, more love and every kind of emotion possible which makes it such a brilliant series.

This new instalment, The People vs Alex Cross, has several interweaving plots, the main one being Alex Cross being on trial for murder. If you haven’t read the previous books it’s might be a bit confusing as it mentions an ongoing storyline and reoccurring characters, however it is recapped in a way that would probably just mean a new reader would read and enjoy this and then backtrack and read the rest!

The trial itself was unbelievably tense. It really did feel like this could be the end of Alex Cross as a force for good. The whole way through the prosecution’s evidence was overwhelming and I honestly couldn’t see how Cross would retain his freedom. The not knowing whether he would prevail made it incredibly exciting and I loved not knowing how it would end!

During this, Cross and Sampson are walking a fine line to investigate the disappearance of several young girls, which once again throws them into immediate danger. They really are both amazing bad ass cops!

Both these main storylines and all the others thread together and touch on topics which are in the media a lot and it made it feel all too real.

I’ve spent so many years reading about these characters that I’ve become completely invested, & I love how in each one they become more defined as people.

The end of this trial is absolutely mind blowing & I can’t wait to talk about it with other book lovers!

Waiting for Callback: Take Two by Perdita and Honor Cargill

Waiting for Callback: Take Two by Perdita and Honor Cargill
Release date: 26.1.2017
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Goodreads

Description:

Characters
Elektra James is back and as wonderful as ever. She is in a new environment and getting used to new routines. As the book progresses, Elektra develops and grows to accommodate some of the pitfalls of teenage life, relationships and media interpretation.
We actually don’t get many new characters, but it was nice to see Carlo, returning from his brief cameo in the previous instalment.
He’s a decent guy, if not overly flirty. What I like most about him is that he never goes too far with Elektra and he responds maturely when she rebuffs him, repeatedly.

Plot
Taking off from where the first book finished, we get to follow Elektra on her first film job, deal with a long-distance relationship and some family grief.
It’s a brilliant afternoon read and I really loved the life on a movie set, even if it wasn’t always bright lights and big smiles.
The final act heartbreak had me a blubbering wreck and it’s a must read for anyone with a furry family member.

Writing
It’s just as good as part one; it successfully uses text and emails to develop characters and plot. In addition to this, we get the addition of media articles from a gossips magazine following Archie’s activities on his own filming location. It’s a stroke of genius and blends so organically into the books narrative.

I cannot wait for the arrival of book three; due for release 31^st May 2018

Waiting for Callback by Perdita and Honor Cargill #bookreview #han

Waiting for Callback by Perdita and Honor Cargill
Release date: 28.1.16
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Goodreads

Description:
When Elektra is discovered by an acting agent, she imagines Oscar glory can’t be far away, but instead lurches from one cringe-worthy moment to the next! Just how many times can you be rejected for the part of ‘Dead Girl Number Three’ without losing hope? And who knew that actors were actually supposed to be multi-lingual, play seven instruments and be trained in a variety of circus skills?

Off-stage things aren’t going well either – she’s fallen out with her best friend, remains firmly in the friend-zone with her crush and her parents are driving her crazy. One way or another, Elektra’s life is now spent waiting for the phone to ring – waiting for callback.

Can an average girl-next-door like Elektra really make it in the world of luvvies and starlets? Geek Girlmeets Fame meets New Girl in this brilliantly funny new series!

Characters
Elektra James is a solid leading lady in this book; she has the charm, drive and humility. She is a likeable, believable and most of all, relatable. She’s someone I would love to get to know

Her friend Moss is an interesting background/support character. We see her withdraw from Elektra quite early on in the book, yet we still learn a lot about her through the texts between herself and Elektra.

Archie is a lovely character, but lacking an obvious flaw, puts be on guard. I want to believe that he’s this wonderful, charming young man, but I’ve been burnt before. I’m intrigued to learn more about him in Take 2. I really do hope he doesn’t hurt Elektra.

Plot
It felt episodic, which is something amazingly refreshing. I wasn’t entirely sure where the story was going, ensuring it was a page turner from start to finish.

There’s drama, both on and off the set, but all seems fairly resolved before the final pages. It’s quite wonderful for a book to be resolved, yet wanting more. It also helps that I know there is more to come.

Writing
A brilliant use of emails and texts move the plot along and develop the minor characters. It’s not usually my cup of tea but it really works within this novel. It has a wonderful ease of reading akin to writers like Holly Smale and Bourne.
I really cannot wait for Take 2; it’s ordered and on its way.

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart
Release date: 5.9.2017
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Description:
The story of a young woman whose diabolical smarts are her ticket into a charmed life. But how many times can someone reinvent themselves? You be the judge.

Imogen is a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat.
Jule is a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete.
An intense friendship. A disappearance. A murder, or maybe two.
A bad romance, or maybe three.
Blunt objects, disguises, blood, and chocolate. The American dream, superheroes, spies, and villains.
A girl who refuses to give people what they want from her.
A girl who refuses to be the person she once was.

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Characters
Julie is known in the book as many, many names, but is referred to as Jule on the most part. Very little is known about her as a person, which gives me a sense of fear or uncertainty. Had it have been a first-person narrative, I would have said she is the most unreliable character of YA fiction I’d ever come across. In fact I still, hours after reading, don’t trust her or her motivation for doing what she does… which is why I’m so spellbound by her.
Jule is incredibly intelligent and resourceful. Just wait until the pin starts to drop and, while we never get a true sense of who she is, you do realise how strong she is.

Imogen is a spoilt, unlikable character and there seems to be a sense of justification about what happens to her. Yes, we get a lot of information second hand, but you do later realise there’s other things you have to look out for to learn about this character. Not that it helps.

Forrest and Brooke are equally unlikable; however, you may feel a little sympathy for them. They’re both upper class collateral damage.

Plot and writing
It’s hard not to talk about both of these together, owing to the nature of the book. It’s a third person narrative that has a backward/ retrospective plot that is reminiscent of the beautiful film Memento (2000).
This is unputdownable writing. I read it in one sitting, mainly because I needed to know. I don’t think I could have kept up with the threads had I been dipping in and out of the narrative.

While it’s clearly not a new concept, as Memento can attest to, it is a gripping way to set out a novel and it won me over from the start.

The Baby by Lisa Drakeford

The Baby by Lisa Drakeford
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Details: When Olivia opens the bathroom door, the last thing she expects to see is her best friend Nicola giving birth on the floor – and to say Nicola is surprised is an understatement. She’s not ready to be a mum, and she needs Olivia’s help. But Olivia has her own problems – specifically her bullying boyfriend, Jonty, and keeping an eye on younger sister Alice. And then there’s Nicola’s friend Ben, who’s struggling with secrets of his own

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I started reading this at midnight and suddenly found that it was almost four am and I had read the entire book!
I loved the format of this book; that each section focused on a different characters point of view and that each section moved the story on timewise.
Each character was distinct, interesting and very real – they all had their own idiosyncrasies and flaws, and it was the way they came together in the wake of Nicola having the baby that made it so fascinating.
They all grew as people in the months that the book covered, and I really enjoyed seeing how their friendships were affected by the events that had happened, and I’d become really invested in them so when it finished I still had questions as to what would happen next to them.

A great book for fans of Trouble by Non Pratt or contemporary YA fiction in general!

****spoiler alert****
I really want to know how things worked out between Nicola and Jonty, and Nicola and Ben and Jonty and his dad… basically I started off hating Jonty but then I really warmed to him after I knew more about him!