Coffee and Kindle: June 2024

Book Published: 25th June 2024

3.5 Stars Rounded up to 4

This is a fast paced book about a reunion party for a group of 5's uni friend who died 25 years ago.
The story is from multiple perspectives and what unfolds is how their lives have changed since uni and what happened from their perspectives while they were all friends at that time.

The Reunion Party is set in a boutique Yorkshire hotel which has a digital detox policy and one of the friends is the manager and has arranged for her 4 other friends to stay free of charge for the weekend to remember their dear friend, until things start to go awry.

I enjoyed the multiple perspectives in this book, as it really brought the story and characters to life and showed their vulnerabilities and insecurities, which helped me warm to them more. I was correct in my assumptions as to what had happened to an extent and I think I enjoyed the first half of the book the most as the suspense was building and the stories were unfolding and then the book took a different turn, which I wasn't expecting and felt could have been summarised more succinctly, which let the book down for me, as I would have preferred more of the mystery and build up, but that is just a personal preference.

I enjoyed how quickly the story moved and was able to read the book in two days (not bad for me especially as I had to work also).

If this kind of mystery appeals to you I think you'll enjoy it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

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Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Review: Honey

Honey by Isabel Banta
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Published: 25th June 2024

A wonderfully told story about growing up, finding out who you are and exploring the possibilities that exist for you, even when others are imposing their ideas onto you.

The story is of a young singer named Amber Young, who gets scouted at a young age to join a girl band Cloud9, in the era of girl and boy bands, the book then follows Amber's career, with all the highs and lows of being in the public eye and feeling owned by those around her. Being questioned if her ambition is enough, or is it just a desire to be loved and find love.

The story is cleverly set out into the sections of a song, I really liked this style and I really enjoyed the honesty and rawness of what it is like to be a young girl growing into adulthood in the limelight and how others thoughts and opinions shape who you think you are and impact you.

This is a brilliantly written debut novel, I loved the writing style, Isabel Banta has a great way with words, that help you to become immersed in the life of these pop icons of the late 90's early 00's.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

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Coffee and Kindle Blog
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Monday, June 24, 2024

Review: The Dead Friend Project

The Dead Friend Project by Joanna Wallace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Book Published: 11th July 2024

Another great, witty, dark book from Joanna Wallace, with a lot of heart and emotion.

This book centres on Beth whose best friend, Charlotte died and her husband left her for her best friend on the same day, since then her life has been spiralling and she's lost her way and feeling lonely as she no longer has her mum friends to turn to.

It's a fabulous book that keeps you guessing as Beth goes on the hunt for who killed her best friend. Everyone else accepts Charlotte's death as a tragic accident, but once Beth starts asking questions the more the details don't sit right with her, the only problem is she's trying to solve the crime after a bottle (or two) of wine and can't decipher her own drunken notes, making it harder to piece together the facts.

Joanna Wallace's character's are believable, relatable and beautifully written and described. I laughed, cried and was hooked by this book.

Thank you very much to Netgalley, Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books, Viper and the author Joanna Wallace for this ARC.

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Review: The Vanishing Act

The Vanishing Act by Sarah Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Published: 4th July 2024

So this is the third book in the Mallory Dawson Crime Thriller series and I have actually read these all and in order... (very unusual for me to get that right haha).

I have enjoyed the previous two books, so was looking forward to this one and I wasn't disappointed. And I think the story and the writing gives enough back story that you could read this as a standalone book.

The story is of a family of 5 who vanish from their holiday home in a remote area of Wales which the cleaner of the property notices is under strange circumstances. The cleaner Elsa knows Mallory and calls her as she is concerned for the family.

Through the book it becomes apparent that the house has a past which involves alleged poltergeists and strange happenings when a family lived their back in 2003 3 siblings and their hippy parents.

Leaving Mallory and DI Harri Evans to investigate the disappearance of the family and trying to see if there is a connection between what is happening now and the houses history, sue to the unexplained events.

I really enjoyed this book and thought it followed on nicely from the last book, I enjoy the returning characters and feel very comfortable and confident when they are involved in the story. The settings are well described and I really enjoy the atmosphere created and all the tension, with the building of the plot and the story, along with the twists and turns you expect from a good mystery.

My main niggle is the constant referencing of Welsh language TV and Radio, I don't think it's always necessary to mention, although it is very comforting to read and be immersed in the Welsh language in this book.

I hope there are more books to come in this series as I feel so invested in Mallory, her son Toby and DI Harri Evans stories I want to know how their relationships progress.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for this ARC.

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Saturday, June 22, 2024

Review: The Suspect

The Suspect by Rob Rinder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Book Published 20th June 2024

I didn't realise when I started this book, that it was second in a series, but in all honesty I didn't feel like that took anything away from this book, enough was explained throughout that I was able to enjoy this book and the characters without having read it. Having said that I will be going back and reading the first book now, as I enjoyed this one so much.

The writing style is enjoyable to read and the characters are well rounded and real, I felt like I knew them by the end of the book.

The story itself was good and kept me interested until the end. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

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Sunday, June 2, 2024

Review: You’d Look Better as a Ghost

You’d Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Published: 21st September 2023

I saw this on offer for the Kindle through Bookbub and the title got me straightaway, it felt witty and interesting, then I read the first two lines of the synopsis:

"I have a gift. I see people as ghosts before they die.
Of course, it helps that I'm the one killing them."

After reading that I was sold, and couldn't wait to start reading it and boy was I glad I went for this. A wonderfully witty, dry, dark book that kept me hooked and rooting for a serial killer.

It's a story about the harsh realities of dementia and the care system at its core, but also bereavement and of course a serial killer: Claire who after her father dies, is caught off guard by her emotions and how that impacts her killings.

A joy to read

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