I've been meaning to read a book by Barbara Copperthwaite for quite some time, so I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to read "The Perfect FrienI've been meaning to read a book by Barbara Copperthwaite for quite some time, so I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to read "The Perfect Friend" (Available on July 5th!)
Alex is suffering from Anorexia, and no longer has a relationship with her husband or twins.
Carrie has been diagnosed with terminal Cancer.
They meet in a support group, and Alex feels almost maternal towards Carrie. She makes it her mission to make the rest of Carrie's life, all that it can be.
But, Alex is a self proclaimed liar. Does she have an ulterior motive or is she the "perfect friend"?
I have to admit that I was NOT fully invested in this story till about the 50% point.
Having read a LOT of thrillers this year, I am finding it challenging to decide on a fair rating for this book...
The first twist was also the twist in an earlier read this year.
The second twist was in a different book, also recently read.
I won't mention those books, here...so that other readers can be surprised when I was not.
If you have not read those same books, I believe that YOU will enjoy this book more than me, because YOU will have more jaw dropping moments than I did.
At the 50% point, the pace picked up and I began to enjoy the story more.
I did want to find out if either of these women could be considered a "perfect friend" and if the ending could surprise me. (some of it did!!)
For that reason, I am going to go with a 3.5 star rating (rounded up) as I think that readers who don't guess the first two reveals WILL find this book satisfying.
Thank You to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the ARC I received in exchange for my candid review!
Merged review:
I've been meaning to read a book by Barbara Copperthwaite for quite some time, so I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to read "The Perfect Friend" (Available on July 5th!)
Alex is suffering from Anorexia, and no longer has a relationship with her husband or twins.
Carrie has been diagnosed with terminal Cancer.
They meet in a support group, and Alex feels almost maternal towards Carrie. She makes it her mission to make the rest of Carrie's life, all that it can be.
But, Alex is a self proclaimed liar. Does she have an ulterior motive or is she the "perfect friend"?
I have to admit that I was NOT fully invested in this story till about the 50% point.
Having read a LOT of thrillers this year, I am finding it challenging to decide on a fair rating for this book...
The first twist was also the twist in an earlier read this year.
The second twist was in a different book, also recently read.
I won't mention those books, here...so that other readers can be surprised when I was not.
If you have not read those same books, I believe that YOU will enjoy this book more than me, because YOU will have more jaw dropping moments than I did.
At the 50% point, the pace picked up and I began to enjoy the story more.
I did want to find out if either of these women could be considered a "perfect friend" and if the ending could surprise me. (some of it did!!)
For that reason, I am going to go with a 3.5 star rating (rounded up) as I think that readers who don't guess the first two reveals WILL find this book satisfying.
Thank You to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the ARC I received in exchange for my candid review!...more
1922: Opaline, flees her childhood home to escape an arranged marriage to a man she has never met. She will first find refuge in Paris, where her3.5 ⭐️
1922: Opaline, flees her childhood home to escape an arranged marriage to a man she has never met. She will first find refuge in Paris, where her love of rare books will earn her an apprenticeship in a bookstore called “Shakespeare and Company”, the perfect training ground for a young woman who is convinced that Bronte’ wrote a second book, which is waiting to be discovered.
But, her happiness will be short lived and she will have to flee again to Dublin where she will be given an opportunity to run her own book store in a building with an extraordinary past…..for awhile.
Present Day: Martha is running from an abusive husband, and she will respond to an advert for a housekeeper, at #12, Ha’Penny Lane, placed by an eccentric former actress, who insists on being addressed as Madame Bowden. (I just adored her!)
Unexplainable things happen here but unexpectedly, it becomes the perfect refuge for Martha.
Henry is on a quest to find a book that was mentioned in a letter he found-a book that he needs to find for his PH.D research. IF he can find it hidden in a bookshop at 11 Ha’Penny Lane, he could make a name for himself and it could make his career.
He enters the shop but when he turns around, the shop has disappeared.
Buildings still stand at 10 Ha’Penny Lane and 12 Ha’Penny Lane but 11 Ha’Penny lane no longer exists. He seeks answers from Martha, the striking young woman at #12, and finds more than he bargained for.
Of course, Opaline’s story will be eventually be linked to the characters in the present day.
I am not a big fan of MAGICAL REALISM, but this time these elements of the book were actually my FAVORITE part!
The book is also labeled as HISTORICAL FICTION and it definitely reads as such-even the present day chapters read like they are taking place in the past-not the present-they lacked a contemporary feel.
Much was predictable with the exception of the magical realism elements, which is why this enchanting story earns 3.5 ⭐️ rounded down from me.
A buddy read with DeAnn-be sure to check out her amazing review!
AVAILABLE June 22, 2023
Thank You to One More Chapter for the invitation to read this one. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Merged review:
3.5 ⭐️
1922: Opaline, flees her childhood home to escape an arranged marriage to a man she has never met. She will first find refuge in Paris, where her love of rare books will earn her an apprenticeship in a bookstore called “Shakespeare and Company”, the perfect training ground for a young woman who is convinced that Bronte’ wrote a second book, which is waiting to be discovered.
But, her happiness will be short lived and she will have to flee again to Dublin where she will be given an opportunity to run her own book store in a building with an extraordinary past…..for awhile.
Present Day: Martha is running from an abusive husband, and she will respond to an advert for a housekeeper, at #12, Ha’Penny Lane, placed by an eccentric former actress, who insists on being addressed as Madame Bowden. (I just adored her!)
Unexplainable things happen here but unexpectedly, it becomes the perfect refuge for Martha.
Henry is on a quest to find a book that was mentioned in a letter he found-a book that he needs to find for his PH.D research. IF he can find it hidden in a bookshop at 11 Ha’Penny Lane, he could make a name for himself and it could make his career.
He enters the shop but when he turns around, the shop has disappeared.
Buildings still stand at 10 Ha’Penny Lane and 12 Ha’Penny Lane but 11 Ha’Penny lane no longer exists. He seeks answers from Martha, the striking young woman at #12, and finds more than he bargained for.
Of course, Opaline’s story will be eventually be linked to the characters in the present day.
I am not a big fan of MAGICAL REALISM, but this time these elements of the book were actually my FAVORITE part!
The book is also labeled as HISTORICAL FICTION and it definitely reads as such-even the present day chapters read like they are taking place in the past-not the present-they lacked a contemporary feel.
Much was predictable with the exception of the magical realism elements, which is why this enchanting story earns 3.5 ⭐️ rounded down from me.
A buddy read with DeAnn-be sure to check out her amazing review!
AVAILABLE June 22, 2023
Thank You to One More Chapter for the invitation to read this one. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!...more
“Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginnings End” from the song “Closing Time” by Semisonic.
“New Year’s Eve. Or in Scotland-Hogmanay- the las“Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginnings End” from the song “Closing Time” by Semisonic.
“New Year’s Eve. Or in Scotland-Hogmanay- the last day of the year, and one of enthusiastic celebrations and long held traditions-as one year ends and the new one begins.”
But, this could be the last year that Hogmanay will be celebrated at Gino’s Trattoria, a family business that never quite recovered after Covid. Dario has until midnight to secure new funds or sell to an Investment group in America.
Ailish’s 30 year marriage ended at Gino’s two years ago, when she caught her husband in a compromising position with his secretary out back. Will she finally have the courage to return or will she continue to hide and allow him to ruin one of her favorite traditions?
Ailish’s daughter, Emmy suspects that her boyfriend, Cormac might not be any more loyal to her than her Dad was to her mom.
And, Emmy’s grandmother, Minnie Ryan will be bringing a gift to Gino’s that she has waited all year to deliver.
A LOT will change in 24 hours-and the story unfolds in two hour increments starting with 8 a.m-10 a.m, until we reach midnight where we will begin the countdown to the New Year…
Last Night at Villa Lucia by Simon McCleve Narrated wonderfully by Claire Corbett 8 hrs 37 min at 1.0 speed 5 hrs 45 mins at 1.5 speed
I MIGHT kill to livLast Night at Villa Lucia by Simon McCleve Narrated wonderfully by Claire Corbett 8 hrs 37 min at 1.0 speed 5 hrs 45 mins at 1.5 speed
I MIGHT kill to live at the Villa Lucia in Tuscany!
The infinity pool, the surrounding Olive Orchards, and the vineyards of plump black Sangiovese grapes-it sounded like heaven on earth.
But, Cerys is just trying to keep her bed and breakfast/yoga retreat afloat and stay ahead of any potential bad reviews that can ruin her livelihood. And, to stay ahead of her dependence on alcohol which she is turning to earlier and earlier in the day, to get her through the stress-while hiding her drinking from her teenaged daughter, Lowri.
Today, Harry, the Director of A &R at Kismet Records will be arriving with his wife, Zoe and their teenaged son, Charlie, and he isn’t known for his patience. But, that will be the least of her concerns.
The book opens with a body floating face down in the infinity pool-
Breathe in for five seconds, hold for seven, and breathe out for eight-Cerys reminds herself…
The story is then told from multiple, alternating POV’s as Detective Saachi pieces together WHAT happened at the Villa and WHO is responsible for the MURDER.
I suspected just about EVERYONE at point or another which always makes reading a book like this fun-and the story is PLAUSIBLE as well as SURPRISING and SUSPENSEFUL-which is another PLUS for me.
No wonder this UK author who burst onto the scene in 2020, has become an Amazon bestselling author with over 2 million books sold. His DI Ruth Hunter Snowdonia series (19 as of today) is currently in development as a TV series to be filmed in North Wales where the author currently lives. He also has another successful five book crime series set on Anglesey.
This is a STANDALONE and, I am really excited to have discovered Simon McCleave’s work! I paired the Audible with a written copy and enjoyed both.
Although the book contains references to Sexual Assault, Domestic Abuse, and Alcoholism, nothing is graphic in description.
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Storm Publishing for both the Kindle and Audiobook versions-provided through NetGalley and NetGalley shelf, respectively. These are my candid thoughts!...more
The Wedding People by Alison Espach Narrated by Helen Laser Expected Publication Date: July 30, 2024
Smart, Honest and Hopeful
Forty-ish Phoebe Stone arriThe Wedding People by Alison Espach Narrated by Helen Laser Expected Publication Date: July 30, 2024
Smart, Honest and Hopeful
Forty-ish Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn and checks into the most expensive room for one night. She is wearing her green dress and gold heels, so she looks the part of a wedding guest-but she isn’t there to celebrate the start of a new life-she is there to END hers.
Infertility, Infidelity, Depression, Divorce and now the death of her beloved cat.
That is what has led to this tragic decision.
Meanwhile, the 28 year old bride, Lila has planned the PERFECT six day wedding, booking the entire Cornwall Inn for her “once in a lifetime” event. So it “just won’t do” that there has been a mix-up which allowed one random guest to check-in-even if it was just for the first night.
And, it’s definitely UNACCEPTABLE when she meets Phoebe and learns of her intent. NOBODY will ruin her wedding!
A chance encounter, an unlikely alliance, an unexpected friendship.
Sometimes vulnerable people make the WRONG decisions. But, if you are lucky-you can still end up with the RIGHT outcome.
This is the kind of book that you will still be thinking about long after you finish-Especially if you are a woman of a certain age-or a certain stage of your life. And, even, if like me, you hate “sex themed” bachelorette activities, and don’t really even enjoy weddings!
Of course, there are some of these things to endure in this book, and my personal preference is to read about this “well intentioned” pre-wedding fun without resorting to the unnecessary use of the more vulgar sexual terms to drive your point home-the three “C” words. They didn’t seem to fit with the more reflective conversations that characterized the rest of this story. (- .5)
The ending wasn’t completely unexpected, though it is one that I hoped for, and the wisdom of the parting words shared between Phoebe and Lila, brought a tear to my eye, and is the reason I rounded up instead of down. I will remember the story.
I’m glad there wasn’t an epilogue and that the reader can envision what they think happens next…
4.5 stars ⭐️
I listened to the Audiobook, provided by MacMillan Audio through NetGalley, which was expertly narrated by Helen Laser who delivered a wide range of voices and accents to the diverse cast of characters! This has been optioned for film and I look forward to watching too.
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